🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,347 in Karditsa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $2,037 in Karditsa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,727 in Karditsa.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 9% less than in Karditsa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Karditsa2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Karditsa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$11.47€10.00
-61.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$63.2€55.1
-48.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$8.08€7.04
10.52%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$3.11€2.71
-6.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$2.08€1.81
-57.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$0.56€0.49
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$4.65€4.05
-49.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$5.30€4.62
-29.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Karditsa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.59€1.38
17.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$1.35€1.18
8.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$1.24€1.08
25.00%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$3.40€2.97
-38.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$11.36€9.90
72.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$9.86€8.60
-65.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$15.06€13.13
-24.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$1.73€1.51
72.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$2.16€1.88
-22.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$1.46€1.27
51.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$0.89€0.77
142.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$0.94€0.82
61.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$0.77€0.67
74.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$0.89€0.78
26.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$1.02€0.89
-46.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$5.26€4.58
-19.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$6.90€6.01
176.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$0.88€0.77
102.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$0.88€0.77
215.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Karditsa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$1.46€1.27
52.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$48.55€42.32
-53.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$2.27€1.97
33.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$1.19€1.04
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$14.22€12.39
-72.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$2.22€1.93
-32.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$28.5K€24.8K
-6.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$24.0K€20.9K
12.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Karditsa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$166€145
-38.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$24.85€21.67
-54.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$29.53€25.74
-41.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Karditsa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$39.14€34.12
33.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$28.72€25.03
-61.46%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$7.93€6.91
-3.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Karditsa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$498€434
12.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$4,608€4,017
149.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Karditsa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$71.8€62.6
-12.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$36.99€32.25
-20.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$79.4€69.2
23.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$102€88.9
-13.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Karditsa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$526€458
40.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$453€395
6.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$774€675
172.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$633€552
93.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$2,724€2,375
32.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$2,328€2,030
11.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Karditsa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$870€759
-43.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
4.36
27.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Karditsa: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $526 in Karditsa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Karditsa pays 76% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $63.0 in Karditsa. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $249, with Karditsa cheaper for home cooking.
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 Karditsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karditsa cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Karditsa?
On paper, salaries run 76% lower in Karditsa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Karditsa?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $526 in Karditsa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Karditsa?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $1,347 in Karditsa – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 114% less than in Karditsa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Karditsa?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,347 in Karditsa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Karditsa. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Karditsa more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Karditsa, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Karditsa?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Karditsa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Karditsa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.