ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,553 in Kastoria, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,304 in Kastoria, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $3,055 in Kastoria, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 21% cheaper than Kastoria, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Kastoria is 16% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Kastoria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$13.05âŽ11.17
-64.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$57.2âŽ48.94
-18.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$9.43âŽ8.07
-6.26%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$4.09âŽ3.50
-26.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$1.67âŽ1.43
-55.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.57âŽ0.49
-35.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$3.97âŽ3.40
-38.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$3.57âŽ3.06
1.12%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kastoria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.54âŽ1.32
46.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.61âŽ1.38
14.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.20âŽ1.89
1.82%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$4.24âŽ3.63
-45.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$13.58âŽ11.63
44.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$9.94âŽ8.51
-63.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$13.23âŽ11.33
-0.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.33âŽ1.99
45.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.95âŽ1.67
-15.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.12âŽ0.96
115.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.92âŽ1.65
5.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.08âŽ0.92
44.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.27âŽ1.09
18.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.00âŽ0.86
2.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.49âŽ0.42
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$5.28âŽ4.52
-15.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$9.15âŽ7.83
106.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.60âŽ1.37
11.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.45âŽ2.09
12.24%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Kastoria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.58âŽ1.36
-11.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$46.02âŽ39.40
-75.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$7.16âŽ6.13
-56.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$13.91âŽ11.90
1.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$2.17âŽ1.86
-37.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$34.2KâŽ29.3K
-20.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$29.0KâŽ24.8K
13.42%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kastoria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$340âŽ291
-63.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$24.16âŽ20.68
-43.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$30.86âŽ26.41
-39.99%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kastoria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$49.06âŽ42.00
25.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$26.33âŽ22.54
-36.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$10.06âŽ8.61
-8.65%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kastoria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$510âŽ437
36.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$5,637âŽ4,825
176.62%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kastoria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$113âŽ96.4
-48.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$38.53âŽ32.98
-8.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$101âŽ86.8
11.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$95.0âŽ81.4
-9.10%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kastoria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$496âŽ424
24.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$390âŽ334
14.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$786âŽ673
160.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$605âŽ518
146.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$3,355âŽ2,872
12.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,289âŽ1,960
15.71%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kastoria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$647âŽ554
-19.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.34
22.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kastoria: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $496 in Kastoria. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 23% higher in Kastoria, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $57.0 in Kastoria. Groceries tell a different story â $292 in Phuket vs $272 in Kastoria â so Kastoria wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Kastoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kastoria?
Kastoria costs about 26% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Kastoria?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,329 in Kastoria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Kastoria?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Kastoria?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Kastoria â one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Kastoria?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $57.0 in Kastoria. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Kastoria?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Kastoria at $1,553. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kastoria it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Kastoria?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $1,553 in Kastoria. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Kastoria?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or Kastoria?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kastoria makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.