Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and HvarCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hvar
Monthly Cost of Living
ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,552 in Hvar.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,306 in Hvar.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $3,061 in Hvar.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 21% less than in Hvar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Hvar is 16% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Hvar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$13.46âŽ11.50
-65.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,523
$73.3âŽ62.6
-36.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ287
$9.02âŽ7.71
-2.00%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ97.4
$2.50âŽ2.13
20.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.11
$3.26âŽ2.78
-77.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.88
$2.27âŽ1.94
-83.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.3
$3.57âŽ3.05
-31.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ117
$4.32âŽ3.69
-16.44%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Hvar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.5
$1.24âŽ1.06
82.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ59.8
$1.54âŽ1.32
19.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.0
$3.05âŽ2.61
-26.56%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.3
$3.70âŽ3.16
-37.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ639
$10.81âŽ9.23
81.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$9.49âŽ8.10
-61.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ426
$12.13âŽ10.36
8.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ110
$1.70âŽ1.45
99.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.4
$1.66âŽ1.42
-1.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ78.5
$1.92âŽ1.64
25.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.0
$2.46âŽ2.10
-17.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.6
$1.33âŽ1.13
17.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.66
$1.32âŽ1.13
13.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.30
$1.22âŽ1.04
-16.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ15.91
$1.27âŽ1.08
-61.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$5.62âŽ4.80
-20.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ614
$6.91âŽ5.90
173.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ57.7
$1.49âŽ1.28
19.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ89.5
$2.06âŽ1.76
33.50%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Hvar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.54
$1.74âŽ1.48
-19.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ373
$43.66âŽ37.28
-73.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ101
$3.01âŽ2.57
3.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.48
$1.11âŽ0.95
-9.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ458
$8.95âŽ7.64
57.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ43.93
$1.78âŽ1.52
-24.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
$38.5KâŽ32.9K
-29.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$25.8KâŽ22.0K
27.60%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Hvar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,063
$186âŽ159
-32.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ441
$22.42âŽ19.15
-39.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ602
$31.25âŽ26.69
-40.74%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Hvar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ1,999
$51.4âŽ43.86
19.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ547
$14.81âŽ12.65
13.71%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ299
$9.12âŽ7.79
0.77%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Hvar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.7K
$240âŽ205
190.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
$7,968âŽ6,805
95.68%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Hvar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,878
$91.2âŽ77.9
-36.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,146
$39.26âŽ33.52
-10.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,677
$103âŽ87.9
9.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,808
$105âŽ89.6
-17.63%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Hvar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.0K
$687âŽ587
-10.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.5K
$526âŽ449
-15.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
$1,105âŽ943
85.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
$849âŽ725
75.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
$4,109âŽ3,509
-8.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
$3,317âŽ2,833
-20.15%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Hvar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.35
22.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Hvar: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $687 in Hvar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $47 in Phuket vs $73 in Hvar. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $262, with Hvar cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Phuket vs Hvar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hvar cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $2,328 in Hvar to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Hvar?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $687 in Hvar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Hvar?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket â a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $73.0 in Hvar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Hvar?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $1,552 in Hvar â a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Hvar?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,552 in Hvar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Hvar. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Hvar more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hvar, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Hvar?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Hvar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 26% less than in Hvar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.