Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and IleshaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ilesha
Monthly Cost of Living
ðA single person spends $1,270 per month in Phuket vs $454 in Ilesha, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,304 per month in Phuket vs $801 in Ilesha, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,339 per month in Phuket vs $1,148 in Ilesha, rent included.
ðPhuket costs about 180% more than Ilesha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Phuket and Ilesha are more affordable than the global median â Phuket5% lower, Ilesha66% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$2.51âĶ3,387
85.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$50.7âĶ68.3K
-8.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$5.39âĶ7,268
61.04%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$2.20âĶ2,965
34.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$0.37âĶ494
89.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$0.20âĶ269
95.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$0.80âĶ1,074
216.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$1.37âĶ1,852
175.91%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$2.27âĶ3,063
-2.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$1.25âĶ1,683
44.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$2.34âĶ3,157
-6.41%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$1.70âĶ2,287
35.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$6.41âĶ8,646
201.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$4.28âĶ5,774
-11.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
$5.52âĶ7,442
139.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$3.60âĶ4,859
-7.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$2.11âĶ2,847
-21.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$2.18âĶ2,942
5.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$2.39âĶ3,226
-16.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$2.29âĶ3,094
-33.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$2.03âĶ2,739
-25.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$2.02âĶ2,723
-49.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$0.38âĶ516
34.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$1.26âĶ1,700
250.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$3.25âĶ4,379
497.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$0.69âĶ928
160.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$0.88âĶ1,188
204.55%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$1.19âĶ1,612
155.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
$2.16âĶ2,919
-51.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$4.57âĶ6,167
199.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$0.75âĶ1,012
73.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$20.5KâĶ27.7M
36.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$20.7KâĶ28.0M
59.23%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$41.91âĶ56.5K
193.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$10.35âĶ14.0K
33.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$34.40âĶ46.4K
-45.17%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$6.51âĶ8,776
36.25%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$83.1âĶ112.1K
737.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$2,275âĶ3.1M
605.92%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$19.02âĶ25.7K
211.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$24.91âĶ33.6K
39.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$64.1âĶ86.5K
76.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$57.2âĶ77.1K
48.71%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ilesha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
16.33
-67.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Ilesha: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $615 in Phuket versus $0 in Ilesha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $46 in Phuket versus $51 in Ilesha. Groceries tell a different story â $291 in Phuket vs $195 in Ilesha â 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 â Phuket is pricier by about 180%, 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 $1,904 per month in Phuket and $680 in Ilesha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Ilesha?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $51.0 in Ilesha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Ilesha?
Groceries cost about 49% 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 $454, than in Phuket at $1,270. 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 â 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 â 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.