ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,313 in Kilkenny.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $3,242 in Kilkenny.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $4,170 in Kilkenny.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 47% less than in Kilkenny, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Kilkenny is 73% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Kilkenny
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$16.14âŽ13.81
-71.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$69.6âŽ59.6
-32.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.61âŽ9.09
-16.68%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$4.19âŽ3.59
-28.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.37âŽ2.03
-68.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.71âŽ1.47
-78.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$5.98âŽ5.12
-59.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$6.90âŽ5.91
-47.68%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kilkenny
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.16âŽ1.00
94.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.04âŽ1.75
-9.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.68âŽ1.43
33.33%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.22âŽ2.76
-27.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$9.45âŽ8.09
108.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$9.39âŽ8.04
-61.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$8.59âŽ7.35
52.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.29âŽ1.96
48.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.73âŽ1.48
-5.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$3.57âŽ3.06
-32.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.01âŽ1.72
1.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.18âŽ1.01
32.20%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.13âŽ0.96
32.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.02âŽ0.87
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$1.02âŽ0.88
-51.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$19.08âŽ16.33
-76.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$14.02âŽ12.00
34.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$2.90âŽ2.49
-38.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.96âŽ2.54
-7.09%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Kilkenny
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$2.26âŽ1.94
-38.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$99.8âŽ85.4
-88.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$5.24âŽ4.48
-40.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.19âŽ1.02
-15.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$35.96âŽ30.78
-60.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$2.07âŽ1.78
-34.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$37.6KâŽ32.2K
-27.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$22.0KâŽ18.8K
49.96%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kilkenny
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$160âŽ137
-22.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$21.79âŽ18.65
-37.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$49.91âŽ42.72
-62.89%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kilkenny
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$54.6âŽ46.75
12.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$11.76âŽ10.06
43.20%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$13.68âŽ11.71
-32.82%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kilkenny
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$1,012âŽ866
-30.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$7,370âŽ6,309
111.56%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kilkenny
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$75.4âŽ64.6
-23.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$23.59âŽ20.19
49.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$83.4âŽ71.4
35.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$81.9âŽ70.1
5.46%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kilkenny
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$1,464âŽ1,253
-57.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$1,219âŽ1,044
-63.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$2,476âŽ2,119
-17.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,677âŽ1,435
-11.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$8,474âŽ7,253
-55.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,310âŽ1,977
14.66%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kilkenny
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$2,859âŽ2,447
-81.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.27
24.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kilkenny: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $1,464 in Kilkenny. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Kilkenny pays 446% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $70.0 in Kilkenny. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $269, with Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kilkenny cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 88% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Kilkenny?
On paper, Kilkenny earns 446% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Kilkenny?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $1,464 in Kilkenny. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $1,012 in Kilkenny. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Kilkenny?
Shoppers in Kilkenny pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Kilkenny?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,313 in Kilkenny, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kilkenny. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Kilkenny more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kilkenny, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Kilkenny?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kilkenny 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 88% less than in Kilkenny. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.