ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,349 in Ioannina.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,005 in Ioannina.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,661 in Ioannina.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 9% less than in Ioannina, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Ioannina is 1% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Ioannina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$17.66âŽ15.11
-73.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$34.59âŽ29.61
35.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.05âŽ8.60
-12.04%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$3.87âŽ3.31
-22.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.25âŽ1.92
-67.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.55âŽ0.47
-32.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$4.49âŽ3.85
-45.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$5.65âŽ4.84
-36.11%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ioannina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.48âŽ1.27
52.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.19âŽ1.02
54.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.48âŽ2.12
-9.68%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.43âŽ2.94
-32.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$10.22âŽ8.75
92.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$8.15âŽ6.98
-55.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$11.01âŽ9.42
18.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.97âŽ1.69
72.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.87âŽ1.60
-12.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.24âŽ1.06
94.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.32âŽ1.99
-12.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.25âŽ1.07
24.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.06âŽ0.90
41.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.03âŽ0.88
-0.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.85âŽ0.73
-42.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$5.22âŽ4.47
-14.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.09âŽ6.07
166.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.95âŽ1.67
-8.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.79âŽ2.39
-1.43%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Ioannina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.52âŽ1.30
-7.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$34.54âŽ29.57
-66.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$4.71âŽ4.03
-33.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$7.13âŽ6.11
97.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$2.09âŽ1.79
-35.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$24.7KâŽ21.2K
10.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$26.6KâŽ22.7K
23.96%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ioannina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$216âŽ185
-42.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$20.66âŽ17.68
-34.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$30.59âŽ26.18
-39.46%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ioannina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$46.09âŽ39.45
33.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$46.10âŽ39.46
-63.47%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$9.14âŽ7.82
0.55%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ioannina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$341âŽ292
104.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$8,383âŽ7,176
86.01%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ioannina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$69.9âŽ59.9
-17.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$36.87âŽ31.56
-4.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$77.7âŽ66.6
45.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$118âŽ101
-26.70%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ioannina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$417âŽ357
47.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$308âŽ264
44.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$684âŽ586
199.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$549âŽ470
171.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$3,133âŽ2,681
20.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,605âŽ2,230
1.70%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ioannina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$1,124âŽ962
-53.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.68
13.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ioannina: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $417 in Ioannina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Ioannina pays 115% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Ioannina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $242 per month, with Ioannina 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 Ioannina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Ioannina?
Phuket and Ioannina differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $1,349 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Ioannina earns 115% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Ioannina?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $417 in Ioannina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Ioannina?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $341 in Ioannina. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Ioannina pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,349 in Ioannina, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Ioannina. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Ioannina?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Ioannina safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Ioannina are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Ioannina?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 10% less than in Ioannina. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.