Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Jolly Harbour Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Jolly Harbour

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,319 in Jolly Harbour, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,958 in Jolly Harbour, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $2,598 in Jolly Harbour, rent included.

Phuket is about 7% cheaper than Jolly Harbour, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Phuket and Jolly Harbour are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Jolly Harbour 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$9.51 EC$25.67

-51.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$73.1 EC$197

-35.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$7.47 EC$20.17

18.34%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$5.71 EC$15.42

-47.46%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ฿24.25

$2.16 EC$5.83

-65.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$1.09 EC$2.96

-66.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$5.60 EC$15.11

-56.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$4.46 EC$12.05

-19.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$2.90 EC$7.82

-36.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$4.72 EC$12.74

-52.54%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$8.19 EC$22.11

-71.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$5.65 EC$15.25

248.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$7.01 EC$18.94

-47.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$16.67 EC$45.02

-21.42%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$5.50 EC$14.85

-38.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.84 EC$4.97

-10.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$3.12 EC$8.43

-22.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$3.62 EC$9.77

-43.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$6.93 EC$18.71

-77.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$2.39 EC$6.44

-37.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$3.83 EC$10.33

-73.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$4.36 EC$11.77

-88.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$13.11 EC$35.40

44.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.32 EC$3.58

34.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$3.10 EC$8.36

-11.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$1.82 EC$4.91

-23.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$5.71 EC$15.43

-82.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$0.67 EC$1.81

101.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.2K ฿888.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$125 ฿4,087

$517 EC$1,396

-75.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿444

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$65.7 EC$177

-71.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$75.4 EC$203

-18.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

$56.5 EC$153

-70.22%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$16.37 EC$44.20

-43.86%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$698 ฿22.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-11.17%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jolly Harbour: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $73.0 in Jolly Harbour. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $384 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Jolly Harbour: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jolly Harbour costs about 7% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,978 in Jolly Harbour. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $1,319 in Jolly Harbour. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Jolly Harbour, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Jolly Harbour at $1,319. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jolly Harbour it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $1,319 in Jolly Harbour. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jolly Harbour makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.