Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ierapetra Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ierapetra

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,411 in Ierapetra.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $2,103 in Ierapetra.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $2,795 in Ierapetra.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 13% less than in Ierapetra, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Ierapetra is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51 ฿148
$7.15 €6.23
-36.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62 ฿1,528
$47.20 €41.18
-1.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.49 ฿278
$11.51 €10.04
-26.24%
Cappuccino
$3.08 ฿101
$4.10 €3.58
-24.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.26
$1.35 €1.18
-49.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.84
$0.60 €0.52
-40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿79.5
$4.51 €3.93
-46.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿119
$5.32 €4.64
-31.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ฿71.7
$1.86 €1.62
17.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿59.5
$1.49 €1.30
21.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ฿73.1
$3.53 €3.08
-36.83%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿73.3
$4.93 €4.30
-54.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.60 ฿642
$18.09 €15.78
8.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 ฿122
$9.73 €8.49
-61.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.47 ฿441
$15.63 €13.64
-13.82%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 ฿110
$2.14 €1.87
57.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.0
$2.14 €1.87
-24.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$1.53 €1.33
57.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿65.2
$1.90 €1.66
4.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿50.2
$1.43 €1.24
6.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ฿47.59
$1.10 €0.96
31.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿33.23
$1.25 €1.09
-19.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.86
$1.18 €1.03
-59.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿140
$5.94 €5.18
-28.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.12 ฿627
$9.05 €7.89
111.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿60.2
$1.72 €1.50
6.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ฿89.8
$2.59 €2.26
5.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿46.44
$1.59 €1.39
-10.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.72 ฿384
$47.17 €41.15
-75.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 ฿98.4
$3.95 €3.45
-24.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 ฿34.28
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.90 ฿456
$13.61 €11.87
2.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ฿42.28
$2.13 €1.86
-39.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ฿918.7K
$35.0K €30.5K
-19.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K ฿1.1M
$23.7K €20.6K
41.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,997
$172 €150
-28.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿457
$13.81 €12.05
0.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87 ฿618
$34.69 €30.27
-45.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 ฿2,008
$47.73 €41.64
28.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿552
$26.31 €22.96
-35.99%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿291
$9.20 €8.02
-3.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$691 ฿22.7K
$457 €399
51.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K ฿529.5K
$6,921 €6,038
133.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,894
$79.7 €69.5
-27.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39 ฿1,160
$31.77 €27.72
11.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,716
$103 €90.0
9.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0 ฿2,720
$141 €123
-41.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 ฿19.9K
$499 €435
21.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.7K
$390 €340
14.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 ฿66.5K
$768 €670
164.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 ฿48.9K
$629 €549
137.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,585 ฿117.5K
$3,142 €2,741
14.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,585 ฿84.7K
$2,558 €2,232
1.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ierapetra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ฿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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Ierapetra: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $499 in Ierapetra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $47.00 in Ierapetra for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $314 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 15% 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 $1,835 in Phuket and $2,116 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: $607 in Phuket versus $499 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 $1,223 per month in Phuket versus $1,411 in Ierapetra – a 15% 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 302% 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 $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,411 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 $1,223 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 15% less than in Ierapetra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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