Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kelcyre

For one person, living is cheaper in Kelcyre: $1,199 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $1,100 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Phuket outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Phuket, Thailand
Kelcyre, Albania
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Kelcyre
🇦🇱 Albania
$1,199
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Kelcyre

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Kelcyre actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Phuket versus $1,199 in Kelcyre.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • Kelcyre $1,199

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,204 in Phuket versus $1,858 in Kelcyre.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • Kelcyre $1,858

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,115 in Phuket versus $2,518 in Kelcyre.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • Kelcyre $2,518

Living in Phuket is roughly 8% more expensive than in Kelcyre, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 4% lower, Kelcyre 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kelcyre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿148
$10.16 ALL 823
-56.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,090
$54.9 ALL 4,448
-41.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿294
$11.06 ALL 896
-21.34%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.9
$2.31 ALL 187
17.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.39
$2.39 ALL 194
-61.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.85
$1.27 ALL 103
-60.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿85.4
$3.48 ALL 282
-27.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿122
$4.10 ALL 332
-11.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kelcyre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.7
$2.18 ALL 176
-20.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.95
$1.20 ALL 97.4
20.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.7
$2.47 ALL 200
-39.27%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿73.3
$3.67 ALL 297
-40.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿644
$12.72 ALL 1,030
50.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿115
$9.08 ALL 736
-62.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿368
$16.83 ALL 1,364
-35.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿99.2
$1.97 ALL 160
49.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$2.42 ALL 196
-30.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿74.0
$2.13 ALL 173
2.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.7
$1.89 ALL 153
12.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿49.21
$1.01 ALL 82.0
44.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿46.15
$1.33 ALL 108
3.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿36.30
$1.46 ALL 118
-26.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.41
$0.76 ALL 61.3
-27.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿149
$4.92 ALL 398
-9.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿616
$10.64 ALL 862
71.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.8
$1.64 ALL 133
7.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿97.2
$2.04 ALL 165
41.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kelcyre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.84
$0.51 ALL 41.22
184.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,852
$20.00 ALL 1,620
174.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$3.64 ALL 295
-58.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿26.18
$3.62 ALL 293
-78.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿130
$18.76 ALL 1,519
-79.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿50.2
$2.32 ALL 188
-35.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿907.0K
$33.4K ALL 2.7M
-19.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿888.9K
$29.8K ALL 2.4M
-11.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kelcyre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,300
$101 ALL 8,165
-2.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿381
$18.38 ALL 1,489
-38.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿580
$20.13 ALL 1,630
-14.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kelcyre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,305
$57.8 ALL 4,685
18.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿251
$10.14 ALL 822
-26.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kelcyre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.9K
$349 ALL 28.3K
51.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿633.7K
$8,333 ALL 675.0K
125.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kelcyre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,081
$50.2 ALL 4,067
22.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿953
$48.86 ALL 3,958
-42.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,239
$122 ALL 9,862
-21.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,929
$112 ALL 9,050
-22.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kelcyre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.3K
$489 ALL 39.6K
47.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.2K
$317 ALL 25.7K
60.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.8K
$704 ALL 57.0K
177.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿47.1K
$472 ALL 38.3K
195.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿141.4K
$2,001 ALL 162.1K
109.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿111.3K
$1,311 ALL 106.2K
151.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kelcyre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.16
7.95%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Kelcyre: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
Kelcyre
$317 37.7% $192
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
Kelcyre
$289 8.3% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
Kelcyre
$139 10.3% $13
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
Kelcyre
$150 21.9% $27
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
Kelcyre
$182 52.6% $63
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
Kelcyre
$78 6.1% $5.1
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
Kelcyre
$44 33.8% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Phuket and $489 in Kelcyre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $55 in Kelcyre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $289 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇦🇱 Kelcyre
🕒 Local time
01:52 1:52 AM
19:52 7:52 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
6,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

ALL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 81.01 ALL (100 ALL = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 90.7 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Kelcyre 8,440 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Kelcyre

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kelcyre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kelcyre cheaper than Phuket?
Kelcyre is about 7% cheaper overall, especially in transport and leisure. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,940 in Phuket and $1,799 in Kelcyre to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Kelcyre?
Rent for a central apartment: $721 in Phuket versus $489 in Kelcyre. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kelcyre runs roughly 64% less than in Phuket. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $530 in Phuket versus $349 in Kelcyre. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 enough for either Phuket or Kelcyre?
Either city works on $1,500 a month, though Kelcyre gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Kelcyre?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Kelcyre?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kelcyre are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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