๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,356 in Kaลกtela.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $2,132 in Kaลกtela.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,908 in Kaลกtela.
๐Living in Phuket costs roughly 7% less than in Kaลกtela, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Kaลกtela is 1% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Kaลกtela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56เธฟ149
$16.04โฌ13.82
-71.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63เธฟ1,519
$80.8โฌ69.6
-42.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47เธฟ276
$9.12โฌ7.86
-7.13%
Cappuccino
$3.03เธฟ98.6
$2.89โฌ2.49
4.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69เธฟ22.45
$3.40โฌ2.93
-79.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37เธฟ11.92
$2.53โฌ2.18
-85.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49เธฟ81.0
$4.51โฌ3.89
-44.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66เธฟ119
$3.81โฌ3.28
-3.94%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kaลกtela
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18เธฟ71.0
$1.38โฌ1.19
57.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90เธฟ62.0
$1.57โฌ1.36
21.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20เธฟ71.6
$3.12โฌ2.69
-29.49%
Eggs
$2.22เธฟ72.4
$3.92โฌ3.38
-43.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99เธฟ651
$10.05โฌ8.66
98.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66เธฟ119
$9.40โฌ8.10
-61.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25เธฟ432
$12.85โฌ11.07
3.11%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23เธฟ105
$1.79โฌ1.54
80.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70เธฟ55.3
$1.70โฌ1.46
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39เธฟ78.0
$2.16โฌ1.86
10.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08เธฟ67.7
$2.27โฌ1.96
-8.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59เธฟ51.8
$1.53โฌ1.32
3.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48เธฟ48.31
$1.40โฌ1.20
5.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03เธฟ33.54
$1.36โฌ1.17
-24.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52เธฟ16.83
$1.25โฌ1.08
-58.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25เธฟ138
$5.85โฌ5.04
-27.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79เธฟ612
$7.51โฌ6.47
150.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76เธฟ57.2
$1.34โฌ1.15
31.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76เธฟ89.8
$1.13โฌ0.97
144.25%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
Kaลกtela
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36เธฟ44.32
$2.36โฌ2.03
-42.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36เธฟ370
$37.44โฌ32.26
-69.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14เธฟ102
$3.54โฌ3.05
-11.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04เธฟ33.74
$2.12โฌ1.83
-50.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77เธฟ448
$9.03โฌ7.78
52.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34เธฟ43.79
$1.79โฌ1.54
-25.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7Kเธฟ901.4K
$38.4Kโฌ33.1K
-28.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9Kเธฟ1.1M
$26.6Kโฌ22.9K
27.53%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kaลกtela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124เธฟ4,025
$183โฌ158
-32.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52เธฟ440
$23.81โฌ20.52
-43.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69เธฟ609
$25.04โฌ21.57
-25.36%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kaลกtela
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8เธฟ2,013
$58.5โฌ50.4
5.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25เธฟ562
$14.43โฌ12.44
19.54%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14เธฟ298
$9.35โฌ8.06
-2.25%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kaลกtela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703เธฟ22.9K
$188โฌ162
273.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kเธฟ517.0K
$1,363โฌ1,174
1064.73%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kaลกtela
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5เธฟ1,937
$82.4โฌ71.0
-27.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07เธฟ1,142
$28.53โฌ24.58
22.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115เธฟ3,754
$109โฌ93.5
6.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1เธฟ2,737
$106โฌ91.2
-20.58%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kaลกtela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619เธฟ20.1K
$483โฌ416
28.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433เธฟ14.1K
$341โฌ293
27.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062เธฟ67.2K
$603โฌ519
242.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511เธฟ49.2K
$551โฌ475
174.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646เธฟ118.7K
$3,400โฌ2,929
7.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626เธฟ85.5K
$2,500โฌ2,154
5.04%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kaลกtela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507เธฟ16.5K
$888โฌ765
-42.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.35
22.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kaลกtela: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $483 in Kaลกtela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐKaลกtela pays 75% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $81.0 in Kaลกtela. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $264, with Kaลกtela 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 Kaลกtela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Kaลกtela?
Phuket and Kaลกtela differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $1,356 including rent). Phuket 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, Kaลกtela earns 75% 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 Kaลกtela?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $483 in Kaลกtela. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Kaลกtela?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 230% less than in Kaลกtela. 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 Kaลกtela?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $188 in Kaลกtela. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,356 in Kaลกtela, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kaลกtela. 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 Kaลกtela?
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 Kaลกtela safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kaลกtela 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 Kaลกtela?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 8% less than in Kaลกtela. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.