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: $1,261 in Phuket versus $578 in Kelibia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $930 in Kelibia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,291 in Phuket versus $1,283 in Kelibia.

Living in Phuket is roughly 118% more expensive than in Kelibia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Kelibia 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53 ฿152
$2.78 TND 8.20
62.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36 ฿1,558
$13.78 TND 40.72
236.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.65 ฿291
$3.30 TND 9.74
162.12%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ฿104
$0.56 TND 1.66
451.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.79
$0.49 TND 1.45
38.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.38
$0.23 TND 0.67
60.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.2
$1.55 TND 4.58
56.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 ฿128
$1.93 TND 5.70
97.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿73.2
$0.41 TND 1.21
431.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿61.1
$0.19 TND 0.55
857.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿73.2
$1.48 TND 4.38
47.30%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿75.1
$1.60 TND 4.72
40.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.93 ฿670
$11.32 TND 33.45
76.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.64 ฿122
$5.66 TND 16.74
-35.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿456
$13.37 TND 39.51
1.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 ฿111
$1.17 TND 3.45
181.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.6
$2.78 TND 8.23
-39.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿78.4
$0.79 TND 2.35
194.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$0.65 TND 1.93
212.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.8
$0.67 TND 1.97
138.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 ฿50.2
$0.71 TND 2.11
109.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿34.02
$0.49 TND 1.43
106.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.02
$0.26 TND 0.76
84.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿150
$3.41 TND 10.07
30.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.63 ฿626
$5.00 TND 14.77
272.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿60.0
$1.10 TND 3.25
62.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 ฿94.0
$1.07 TND 3.15
161.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.69
$0.35 TND 1.03
305.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.33 ฿381
$10.05 TND 29.68
12.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 ฿104
$0.29 TND 0.85
965.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.03
$0.31 TND 0.91
235.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.63 ฿458
$7.41 TND 21.90
83.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.03
$0.84 TND 2.50
55.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K ฿916.6K
$35.8K TND 105.8K
-23.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$35.4K TND 104.5K
-6.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,138
$45.98 TND 136
167.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81 ฿464
$9.48 TND 28.01
45.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿622
$15.08 TND 44.56
22.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.4 ฿2,028
$16.05 TND 47.42
276.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ฿564
$12.50 TND 36.93
34.40%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿299
$3.42 TND 10.09
159.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$687 ฿23.1K
$110 TND 326
521.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿522.5K
$2,501 TND 7,390
521.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 ฿1,936
$43.95 TND 130
31.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66 ฿1,165
$43.34 TND 128
-20.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,861
$99.7 TND 294
15.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.9 ฿2,853
$63.9 TND 189
32.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$618 ฿20.7K
$196 TND 580
214.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$443 ฿14.9K
$138 TND 407
221.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,047 ฿68.8K
$371 TND 1,096
451.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,506 ฿50.6K
$269 TND 794
460.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,568 ฿119.9K
$966 TND 2,855
269.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,511 ฿84.4K
$640 TND 1,892
292.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kelibia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿16.9K
$240 TND 708
109.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
13.6
-60.81%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Last update for Kelibia: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $618 in Phuket and $196 in Kelibia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 110% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $14.00 in Kelibia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $176 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 118% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Kelibia?
Average pay runs 110% 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: $618 in Phuket versus $196 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 13% 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 $687 in Phuket versus $110 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 $578 in Kelibia versus $1,261 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 118% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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