Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Korce

For one person, living is cheaper in Korce: $1,019 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Korce, Albania
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Korce
🇦🇱 Albania
$1,019
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Korce

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Korce actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $1,019 in Korce, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Korce $1,019

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $1,507 in Korce, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Korce $1,507

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $1,995 in Korce, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Korce $1,995

Phuket costs about 25% more than Korce, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Phuket and Korce are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Korce 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Korce
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$6.20 ALL 503
-27.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$38.70 ALL 3,143
-16.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$6.33 ALL 514
39.18%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$1.92 ALL 156
47.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.42
$1.78 ALL 144
-51.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.66
$0.69 ALL 56.3
-28.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$2.43 ALL 198
5.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$2.53 ALL 205
45.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Korce
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.88 ALL 153
-11.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.32
$0.99 ALL 80.6
47.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$2.11 ALL 171
-28.91%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$2.72 ALL 221
-23.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$10.16 ALL 825
87.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$8.75 ALL 711
-62.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$14.41 ALL 1,171
-24.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$1.22 ALL 99.2
140.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$2.22 ALL 181
-23.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.28 ALL 104
75.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$1.58 ALL 128
31.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.05 ALL 85.1
43.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
$1.04 ALL 84.8
32.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.97
$1.05 ALL 85.3
1.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$0.82 ALL 66.9
-36.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$4.42 ALL 359
-4.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$7.95 ALL 646
136.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.75 ALL 142
4.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$1.89 ALL 154
50.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Korce
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.00
$0.61 ALL 49.52
137.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$18.38 ALL 1,493
208.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$3.75 ALL 305
-19.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.34
$3.74 ALL 304
-72.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$18.45 ALL 1,499
-80.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.78
$2.29 ALL 186
-35.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.7K
$34.3K ALL 2.8M
-21.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.8K
$24.3K ALL 2.0M
10.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Korce
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,252
$62.8 ALL 5,103
53.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$18.34 ALL 1,490
-38.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$15.73 ALL 1,277
7.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Korce
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,269
$33.85 ALL 2,749
98.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$18.70 ALL 1,519
-42.62%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$10.05 ALL 816
-25.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Korce
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$220 ALL 17.8K
116.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Korce
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,105
$43.51 ALL 3,534
43.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$53.4 ALL 4,339
-46.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,182
$109 ALL 8,813
-13.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,896
$151 ALL 12.3K
-43.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Korce
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$477 ALL 38.7K
50.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$300 ALL 24.4K
63.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$502 ALL 40.8K
283.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$308 ALL 25.0K
364.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$1,422 ALL 115.5K
193.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$1,118 ALL 90.8K
172.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Korce
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$685 ALL 55.7K
-26.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5
11.40%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Korce: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Korce
$300 38.9% $191
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Korce
$246 7.7% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Korce
$97 22.1% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Korce
$161 31.7% $39
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Korce
$119 2.4% $2.9
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Korce
$54 34.4% $28
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Korce
$43 38.7% $27

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $477 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 36% 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 $32 in Phuket versus $39 in Korce. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Phuket vs $246 in Korce – so Korce wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇦🇱 Korce
🕒 Local time
14:07 2:07 PM
08:07 8:07 AM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
51,152
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

ALL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 81.22 ALL (100 ALL = 1.23 USD). 1 EUR = 90.69 ALL (100 ALL = 1.1 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Korce 8,390 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Korce

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Korce cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 25%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in leisure.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $1,529 in Korce. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Korce, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $477 there versus $716 in Phuket.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 68% less in Korce. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Phuket and $220 in Korce. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 enough for either Phuket or Korce?
$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,278 in Phuket and $1,019 in Korce, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Phuket or Korce more family-friendly?
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.

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