Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kelibia Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kelibia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $625 in Kelibia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $971 in Kelibia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $1,316 in Kelibia.

Living in Phuket is roughly 103% more expensive than in Kelibia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Kelibia 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$2.70 TND 7.78
72.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$13.69 TND 39.49
135.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$3.41 TND 9.83
154.55%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$0.62 TND 1.78
367.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$0.49 TND 1.41
71.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$0.28 TND 0.81
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$1.59 TND 4.59
55.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$2.11 TND 6.08
76.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$0.42 TND 1.21
350.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$0.17 TND 0.50
729.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$1.39 TND 4.01
16.55%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$1.68 TND 4.84
33.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$12.65 TND 36.51
56.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$5.57 TND 16.08
-37.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$14.42 TND 41.61
-21.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$1.22 TND 3.51
137.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$2.80 TND 8.08
-38.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$0.74 TND 2.12
206.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$0.68 TND 1.96
213.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$0.70 TND 2.03
110.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$0.82 TND 2.37
73.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$0.55 TND 1.59
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$0.26 TND 0.74
130.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$3.46 TND 9.98
24.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$6.76 TND 19.52
175.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$1.21 TND 3.49
48.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$1.11 TND 3.21
167.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$0.35 TND 1.02
542.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
$9.74 TND 28.12
141.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$0.32 TND 0.93
868.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$0.32 TND 0.94
237.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$7.43 TND 21.45
-47.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$0.86 TND 2.47
66.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$37.5K TND 108.3K
-25.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$35.8K TND 103.4K
-24.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$46.32 TND 134
126.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$9.55 TND 27.54
19.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$15.02 TND 43.35
16.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$16.55 TND 47.75
228.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
$12.57 TND 36.28
-8.99%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$3.49 TND 10.06
122.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$99.2 TND 286
481.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$2,543 TND 7,339
355.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$43.47 TND 125
46.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$37.56 TND 108
-22.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$114 TND 329
-15.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$68.6 TND 198
31.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$219 TND 631
235.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$147 TND 425
239.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$434 TND 1,251
390.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$245 TND 706
411.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
$995 TND 2,871
255.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$635 TND 1,831
313.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$240 TND 694
111.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
13.6
-59.04%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kelibia: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $219 in Kelibia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 111% 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 $14.00 in Kelibia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $187 per month, with Kelibia cheaper across the board.

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 Kelibia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kelibia cheaper than Phuket?
Kelibia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 103% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Kelibia?
Average pay runs 111% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Kelibia?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $219 in Kelibia. 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 Kelibia runs roughly 141% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $99.2 in Kelibia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Kelibia?
At $625 in Kelibia versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kelibia but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kelibia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Kelibia more family-friendly?
For families, Kelibia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Kelibia?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kelibia 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 Kelibia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities