Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Korce Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Korce

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $972 in Korce, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,470 in Korce, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,968 in Korce, rent included.

Phuket costs about 30% more than Korce, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Korce are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Korce 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$5.92 ALL 484

-22.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$29.92 ALL 2,444

55.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$4.66 ALL 381

81.76%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$1.86 ALL 152

62.90%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.45

$1.56 ALL 128

-55.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.88 ALL 71.7

-57.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$1.70 ALL 139

46.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.72 ALL 222

34.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$2.03 ALL 166

7.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.82 ALL 66.8

131.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.95 ALL 159

12.82%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$2.92 ALL 239

-23.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$9.69 ALL 791

106.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$7.60 ALL 621

-51.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$13.35 ALL 1,091

-0.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$0.85 ALL 69.1

280.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$2.20 ALL 180

-22.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$0.90 ALL 73.2

165.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.26 ALL 103

65.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.93 ALL 75.7

70.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$0.87 ALL 70.7

70.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$1.14 ALL 93.4

-9.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.72 ALL 58.7

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$4.10 ALL 335

3.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$9.96 ALL 814

88.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.74 ALL 142

1.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$1.79 ALL 146

54.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.49 ALL 39.82

177.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$18.96 ALL 1,549

-40.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$3.52 ALL 288

-10.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$3.19 ALL 260

-67.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$17.38 ALL 1,420

-20.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$2.19 ALL 179

-38.81%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$35.1K ALL 2.9M

-21.07%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$25.3K ALL 2.1M

33.72%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$124 ฿4,025

$66.4 ALL 5,421

86.27%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.52 ฿440

$17.51 ALL 1,431

-22.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$11.89 ALL 971

57.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$54.7 ALL 4,472

12.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$25.36 ALL 2,072

-31.98%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$8.33 ALL 681

9.72%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$703 ฿22.9K

$94.9 ALL 7,756

640.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$40.89 ALL 3,341

45.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$35.17 ALL 2,874

-0.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$92.2 ALL 7,532

25.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$139 ALL 11.3K

-39.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$434 ALL 35.5K

42.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$267 ALL 21.8K

61.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$604 ALL 49.3K

241.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$431 ALL 35.2K

250.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

$1,382 ALL 112.9K

163.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

$1,082 ALL 88.4K

142.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$677 ALL 55.3K

-25.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

33.25%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Korce: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $434 in Korce. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in Korce, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $30.00 in Korce. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $232 – making Korce the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Korce: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,458 in Korce. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Korce, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 67% less in Korce. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $703 per month in Phuket and $94.9 in Korce. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Korce, where all-in costs run around $972, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Korce it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Korce – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Korce. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.