🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,394 in Ierapetra.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $2,104 in Ierapetra.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $2,814 in Ierapetra.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 9% less than in Ierapetra, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 5% below, Ierapetra is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$7.06€6.11
-36.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$45.78€39.65
-0.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$11.62€10.07
-24.61%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$4.09€3.54
-27.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$1.41€1.22
-51.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.56€0.49
-30.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$4.64€4.02
-45.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$5.08€4.40
-26.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.82€1.57
18.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$1.48€1.28
22.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$3.48€3.02
-37.36%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$4.66€4.04
-51.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$18.06€15.64
10.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$9.21€7.98
-60.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$15.47€13.39
-12.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$2.13€1.84
52.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$2.21€1.92
-25.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$1.47€1.28
58.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$1.96€1.70
5.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.40€1.22
10.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$1.08€0.94
35.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$1.20€1.04
-18.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$1.14€0.99
-57.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$5.85€5.06
-25.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$9.00€7.80
106.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.79€1.55
3.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$2.71€2.34
-2.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$1.58€1.37
-10.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$45.65€39.53
-74.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$3.97€3.44
-20.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$13.61€11.79
2.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$2.20€1.91
-39.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$34.3K€29.7K
-19.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$23.4K€20.3K
42.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$172€149
-28.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$13.95€12.08
-1.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$34.67€30.03
-47.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$47.61€41.23
27.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$26.15€22.65
-34.38%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$9.15€7.93
-3.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$460€399
49.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$6,806€5,894
131.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$80.0€69.3
-25.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$32.30€27.97
7.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$104€89.7
11.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$139€121
-39.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$497€430
25.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$391€339
14.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$780€675
160.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$623€539
140.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$2,794€2,420
23.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
$2,473€2,141
2.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.53
17.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ierapetra: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $497 in Ierapetra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $46.00 in Ierapetra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $309 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 Ierapetra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Ierapetra?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Ierapetra. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Ierapetra?
You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $2,092 in Ierapetra 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Ierapetra?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $497 in Ierapetra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Ierapetra?
All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $1,394 in Ierapetra – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Ierapetra?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 295% less than in Ierapetra. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Ierapetra?
At $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,394 in Ierapetra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Ierapetra. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Ierapetra?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,264 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Ierapetra?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Ierapetra 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Ierapetra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.