Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and ฤฐzmitCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and ฤฐzmit
Monthly Cost of Living
๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,047 in ฤฐzmit.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,596 in ฤฐzmit.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,145 in ฤฐzmit.
๐Living in Phuket is roughly 21% more expensive than ฤฐzmit, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, ฤฐzmit22% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
ฤฐzmit
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56เธฟ149
$7.15โบ331
-36.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63เธฟ1,519
$22.03โบ1,019
111.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47เธฟ276
$7.64โบ354
10.86%
Cappuccino
$3.03เธฟ98.6
$2.77โบ128
9.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69เธฟ22.45
$1.25โบ57.7
-44.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37เธฟ11.92
$0.51โบ23.49
-27.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49เธฟ81.0
$2.59โบ120
-3.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66เธฟ119
$2.28โบ105
60.53%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
ฤฐzmit
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18เธฟ71.0
$0.97โบ45.09
124.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90เธฟ62.0
$0.36โบ16.81
427.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20เธฟ71.6
$2.18โบ101
0.92%
Eggs
$2.22เธฟ72.4
$1.94โบ89.7
14.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99เธฟ651
$9.48โบ438
110.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66เธฟ119
$6.00โบ277
-39.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25เธฟ432
$19.62โบ908
-32.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23เธฟ105
$1.18โบ54.4
173.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70เธฟ55.3
$2.55โบ118
-33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39เธฟ78.0
$1.43โบ66.0
67.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08เธฟ67.7
$1.70โบ78.5
22.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59เธฟ51.8
$0.95โบ44.06
67.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48เธฟ48.31
$0.69โบ31.91
114.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03เธฟ33.54
$0.93โบ42.82
10.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52เธฟ16.83
$0.53โบ24.62
-1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25เธฟ138
$2.14โบ99.1
98.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79เธฟ612
$8.65โบ400
117.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76เธฟ57.2
$2.07โบ95.9
-14.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76เธฟ89.8
$1.91โบ88.4
44.50%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
ฤฐzmit
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36เธฟ44.32
$0.63โบ29.37
115.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36เธฟ370
$31.02โบ1,435
-63.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14เธฟ102
$0.99โบ45.84
217.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04เธฟ33.74
$0.68โบ31.44
52.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77เธฟ448
$7.54โบ349
82.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34เธฟ43.79
$1.19โบ55.2
12.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7Kเธฟ901.4K
$35.7Kโบ1.7M
-22.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9Kเธฟ1.1M
$38.5Kโบ1.8M
-11.98%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
ฤฐzmit
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124เธฟ4,025
$41.31โบ1,911
199.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52เธฟ440
$14.67โบ679
-7.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69เธฟ609
$12.05โบ557
55.10%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
ฤฐzmit
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8เธฟ2,013
$43.19โบ1,998
43.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25เธฟ562
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14เธฟ298
$3.73โบ172
145.04%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
ฤฐzmit
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703เธฟ22.9K
$313โบ14.5K
124.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kเธฟ517.0K
$7,846โบ363.0K
102.30%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
ฤฐzmit
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5เธฟ1,937
$52.1โบ2,410
14.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07เธฟ1,142
$33.79โบ1,563
3.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115เธฟ3,754
$113โบ5,238
1.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1เธฟ2,737
$90.1โบ4,167
-6.68%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
ฤฐzmit
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619เธฟ20.1K
$506โบ23.4K
22.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433เธฟ14.1K
$392โบ18.2K
10.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062เธฟ67.2K
$874โบ40.4K
135.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511เธฟ49.2K
$710โบ32.8K
112.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646เธฟ118.7K
$1,474โบ68.2K
147.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626เธฟ85.5K
$974โบ45.1K
169.60%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
ฤฐzmit
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507เธฟ16.5K
$1,202โบ55.6K
-57.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
37.5
-85.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for ฤฐzmit: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $506 in ฤฐzmit. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐฤฐzmit pays 137% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $22.00 in ฤฐzmit for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $228 per month, with ฤฐzmit 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 ฤฐzmit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and ฤฐzmit?
Phuket and ฤฐzmit differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $1,047 including rent). ฤฐzmit is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, ฤฐzmit earns 137% 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 ฤฐzmit?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $506 in ฤฐzmit. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and ฤฐzmit?
A monthly transit pass in ฤฐzmit runs roughly 173% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and ฤฐzmit?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $313 in ฤฐzmit. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,047 in ฤฐzmit versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in ฤฐzmit but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes ฤฐzmit the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and ฤฐzmit?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or ฤฐzmit safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and ฤฐzmit 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 ฤฐzmit?
Expats usually find ฤฐzmit gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 21% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.