Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kolasin Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kolasin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $1,306 in Kolasin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $1,942 in Kolasin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $2,577 in Kolasin.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 3% less than in Kolasin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Kolasin 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kolasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿150
$5.71 €4.87
-18.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44 ฿1,496
$29.36 €25.04
58.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿280
$9.62 €8.20
-9.77%
Cappuccino
$2.95 ฿95.0
$1.49 €1.27
97.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ฿22.52
$1.87 €1.59
-62.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿12.70
$1.19 €1.02
-67.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿81.6
$2.93 €2.50
-13.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿122
$2.87 €2.45
31.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kolasin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 ฿71.5
$1.39 €1.18
59.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 ฿57.8
$1.13 €0.97
59.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ฿70.4
$1.84 €1.57
19.02%
Eggs
$2.31 ฿74.5
$3.60 €3.07
-35.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.34 ฿623
$13.08 €11.15
47.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.77 ฿121
$7.27 €6.20
-48.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.22 ฿426
$9.50 €8.10
39.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 ฿107
$2.16 €1.84
54.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ฿53.1
$2.33 €1.98
-29.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 ฿73.7
$1.86 €1.58
23.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿64.1
$3.51 €3.00
-43.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.24
$1.82 €1.55
-15.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 ฿48.77
$1.13 €0.96
33.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.12
$1.95 €1.67
-47.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.57
$1.49 €1.28
-65.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿142
$3.93 €3.35
12.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.41 ฿625
$4.62 €3.94
320.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.0
$1.58 €1.35
13.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿86.4
$2.13 €1.82
25.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kolasin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.43 ฿46.11
$1.46 €1.25
-2.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿377
$37.59 €32.06
-68.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ฿97.9
$1.13 €0.96
169.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.37
$1.01 €0.86
2.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.68 ฿441
$11.64 €9.93
17.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ฿41.85
$1.76 €1.50
-26.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ฿898.9K
$29.8K €25.4K
-6.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K ฿1.1M
$28.8K €24.6K
14.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kolasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿3,962
$91.1 €77.7
34.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82 ฿445
$17.55 €14.97
-21.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86 ฿608
$28.55 €24.35
-33.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kolasin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 ฿1,970
$44.49 €37.95
37.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81 ฿541
$14.52 €12.38
15.77%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿286
$3.45 €2.95
157.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kolasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 ฿22.4K
$291 €248
139.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K ฿517.4K
$7,359 €6,277
118.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kolasin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,910
$22.71 €19.37
161.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85 ฿1,123
$38.10 €32.50
-8.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,646
$120 €102
-5.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1 ฿2,740
$128 €109
-33.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kolasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$615 ฿19.8K
$708 €604
-13.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.4K
$531 €453
-15.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 ฿67.2K
$1,270 €1,083
64.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿48.2K
$916 €781
63.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,734 ฿120.3K
$3,818 €3,256
-2.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,662 ฿85.8K
$2,584 €2,204
3.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kolasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$534 ฿17.2K
$921 €786
-42.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.38
-0.93%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Last update for Kolasin: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $708 in Kolasin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolasin pays 73% 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 in Phuket vs $29 in Kolasin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $256 per month, with Kolasin 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 Kolasin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Kolasin?
Phuket and Kolasin differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($1,270 vs $1,306 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Kolasin earns 73% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Kolasin?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $708 in Kolasin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Kolasin?
All in, you'll spend $1,270 per month in Phuket versus $1,306 in Kolasin – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Kolasin?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 221% less than in Kolasin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,270 in Phuket versus $1,306 in Kolasin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kolasin. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Kolasin?
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.
Is Phuket or Kolasin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kolasin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Kolasin?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Kolasin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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