Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and IleshaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ilesha
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $446 in Ilesha, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $796 in Ilesha, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,146 in Ilesha, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 183% more than Ilesha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Ilesha are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Ilesha67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$2.57₦3,488
77.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,535
$50.5₦68.6K
-7.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿279
$5.20₦7,055
62.88%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿99.7
$2.13₦2,888
42.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.69
$0.33₦453
109.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.04
$0.20₦272
85.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.9
$0.78₦1,060
219.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿120
$1.37₦1,858
167.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.8
$2.26₦3,072
-3.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.6
$1.25₦1,702
52.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿72.4
$2.26₦3,062
-2.65%
Eggs
$2.22฿73.2
$1.72₦2,330
29.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿658
$6.31₦8,568
216.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿121
$4.20₦5,699
-12.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿436
$5.28₦7,167
150.95%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿106
$3.47₦4,716
-6.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.9
$2.06₦2,796
-17.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.8
$2.17₦2,948
10.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$2.31₦3,138
-9.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿52.4
$2.32₦3,147
-31.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.83
$1.92₦2,609
-22.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.90
$1.99₦2,707
-48.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.01
$0.35₦480
48.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿140
$1.25₦1,704
240.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿618
$2.62₦3,557
617.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.8
$0.63₦857
179.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿90.8
$0.93₦1,258
196.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.79
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿374
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿103
$1.20₦1,625
161.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿34.10
$2.26₦3,075
-53.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿453
$4.58₦6,214
200.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.26
$0.79₦1,068
69.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿911.1K
$20.6K₦27.9M
34.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$20.2K₦27.4M
67.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,069
$40.76₦55.3K
203.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿445
$10.05₦13.7K
34.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿615
$34.50₦46.8K
-45.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,035
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿568
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿301
$6.16₦8,359
48.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿23.1K
$81.8₦111.0K
759.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿522.5K
$2,342₦3.2M
577.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,958
$19.18₦26.0K
210.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,154
$24.87₦33.8K
41.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,795
$64.6₦87.8K
78.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,767
$57.0₦77.3K
47.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿120.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿86.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
16.33
-67.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ilesha: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $51.0 in Ilesha. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Phuket vs $190 in Ilesha – so Ilesha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Ilesha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ilesha cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 183%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $669 in Ilesha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Ilesha?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $51.0 in Ilesha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Ilesha?
Groceries cost about 54% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Ilesha?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ilesha, where all-in costs run around $446, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Ilesha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Ilesha more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ilesha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Ilesha?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ilesha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.