Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kolin Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kolin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $2,334 in Kolin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $3,208 in Kolin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $4,082 in Kolin.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 46% less than in Kolin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 9% below, Kolin is 70% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kolin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿150
$10.65 Kč 221
-57.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62 ฿1,073
$53.7 Kč 1,115
-39.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 ฿293
$9.58 Kč 199
-7.10%
Cappuccino
$2.80 ฿92.2
$3.24 Kč 67.3
-13.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿28.94
$2.17 Kč 45.17
-59.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.08
$1.76 Kč 36.64
-72.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 ฿78.5
$2.14 Kč 44.56
11.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿122
$2.81 Kč 58.4
32.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kolin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ฿58.8
$1.16 Kč 24.10
54.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿47.40
$1.75 Kč 36.31
-17.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 ฿52.1
$3.24 Kč 67.4
-51.23%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿69.9
$4.31 Kč 89.6
-50.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.92 ฿655
$14.96 Kč 311
33.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 ฿113
$10.43 Kč 217
-67.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.33 ฿372
$16.74 Kč 348
-32.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿97.0
$2.34 Kč 48.71
26.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿56.6
$1.80 Kč 37.50
-4.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 ฿76.5
$2.41 Kč 50.1
-3.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.4
$3.76 Kč 78.1
-44.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.34
$1.36 Kč 28.25
8.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿44.65
$1.34 Kč 27.88
1.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.13
$1.70 Kč 35.38
-35.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ฿18.89
$0.88 Kč 18.24
-35.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿140
$7.40 Kč 154
-42.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.42 ฿606
$7.26 Kč 151
153.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 ฿61.5
$1.08 Kč 22.50
73.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ฿96.1
$1.84 Kč 38.34
58.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kolin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿73.0
$2.97 Kč 61.7
-25.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.90 ฿753
$23.58 Kč 490
-2.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿99.6
$2.18 Kč 45.41
38.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 ฿35.32
$1.42 Kč 29.49
-24.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.93 ฿129
$14.47 Kč 301
-72.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.06
$1.90 Kč 39.43
-21.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K ฿892.0K
$26.9K Kč 558.7K
0.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ฿902.6K
$31.8K Kč 661.7K
-13.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kolin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 ฿3,380
$290 Kč 6,028
-64.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99 ฿361
$18.18 Kč 378
-39.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51 ฿576
$16.99 Kč 353
3.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kolin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 ฿1,760
$130 Kč 2,700
-58.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20 ฿368
$38.07 Kč 791
-70.58%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48 ฿246
$12.13 Kč 252
-38.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kolin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$557 ฿18.3K
$341 Kč 7,080
63.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ฿389.7K
$11.0K Kč 228.8K
7.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kolin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 ฿2,107
$83.9 Kč 1,744
-23.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07 ฿956
$45.86 Kč 953
-36.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,155
$92.6 Kč 1,924
3.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ฿2,970
$116 Kč 2,409
-22.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kolin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 ฿24.0K
$1,343 Kč 27.9K
-45.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 ฿16.4K
$1,221 Kč 25.4K
-59.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 ฿68.7K
$1,894 Kč 39.4K
10.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 ฿39.8K
$1,627 Kč 33.8K
-25.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,596 ฿118.2K
$7,842 Kč 163.0K
-54.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,512 ฿82.6K
$6,191 Kč 128.7K
-59.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kolin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿16.6K
$1,413 Kč 29.4K
-64.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.71
18.26%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kolin: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $1,343 in Kolin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kolin pays 181% 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: $33.00 in Phuket vs $54.0 in Kolin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $305 per month, with Phuket 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 Kolin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kolin cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Kolin?
On paper, salaries run 181% lower in Kolin. 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 Kolin?
Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Phuket versus $1,343 in Kolin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Kolin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Kolin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Kolin?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $54.0 in Kolin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Kolin?
At $1,253 in Phuket versus $2,334 in Kolin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kolin. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Kolin more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kolin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Kolin?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kolin 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 – expenses run 86% less than in Kolin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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