Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Iernut Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Iernut

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,033 in Iernut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,531 in Iernut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,029 in Iernut.

Living in Phuket is roughly 23% more expensive than Iernut, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Iernut 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Iernut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$8.37 RON 37.84
-43.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$40.27 RON 182
12.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$8.24 RON 37.23
2.31%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$2.30 RON 10.41
27.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$1.33 RON 5.99
-48.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$1.14 RON 5.15
-67.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.31 RON 10.45
4.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$2.81 RON 12.70
32.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Iernut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.55 RON 7.01
43.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$1.22 RON 5.54
50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.60 RON 7.22
35.62%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$3.06 RON 13.84
-27.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$8.46 RON 38.25
133.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$7.01 RON 31.70
-48.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$12.12 RON 54.8
11.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.03 RON 4.65
218.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.31 RON 5.94
22.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.52 RON 6.89
58.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$1.94 RON 8.76
7.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$0.88 RON 3.97
73.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$0.86 RON 3.90
72.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.79 RON 3.56
25.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.80 RON 3.62
-36.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$5.81 RON 26.25
-24.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$7.87 RON 35.57
146.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.09 RON 4.92
63.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$1.68 RON 7.60
61.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Iernut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.70 RON 3.17
95.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$19.48 RON 88.1
-41.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$0.77 RON 3.48
292.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$0.75 RON 3.40
32.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$6.74 RON 30.47
109.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.61 RON 7.27
-15.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$27.6K RON 124.8K
2.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$28.3K RON 127.9K
16.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Iernut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$167 RON 753
-26.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$8.31 RON 37.57
63.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$9.18 RON 41.50
99.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Iernut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$42.12 RON 190
42.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$19.50 RON 88.1
-12.10%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$5.86 RON 26.50
48.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Iernut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$449 RON 2,028
54.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$6,609 RON 29.9K
137.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Iernut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$65.9 RON 298
-9.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$32.16 RON 145
8.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$73.6 RON 332
55.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$81.8 RON 370
1.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Iernut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$384 RON 1,735
59.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$293 RON 1,326
48.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$580 RON 2,624
260.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$435 RON 1,965
247.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$1,694 RON 7,657
121.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$1,579 RON 7,138
65.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Iernut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
7.7
-30.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Iernut: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $384 in Iernut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $40.00 in Iernut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $214 per month, with Iernut 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 Iernut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Iernut cheaper than Phuket?
Iernut is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $1,549 in Iernut 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 Iernut?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $384 in Iernut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Iernut?
Dining out is cheaper in Iernut – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Iernut?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $1,033 in Iernut – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Iernut?
At $1,033 in Iernut versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Iernut but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Iernut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Iernut more family-friendly?
For families, Iernut is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Iernut?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Iernut 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 Iernut gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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