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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $950 in Korce, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,463 in Korce, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,976 in Korce, rent included.

Phuket costs about 33% more than Korce, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Korce are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Korce 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$6.04 ALL 491

-25.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$29.51 ALL 2,397

54.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$4.70 ALL 382

86.38%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$1.88 ALL 152

57.98%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$1.56 ALL 127

-55.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.88 ALL 71.1

-55.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$1.79 ALL 146

41.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$2.72 ALL 221

37.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$2.05 ALL 167

4.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.80 ALL 64.8

127.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$2.03 ALL 165

7.39%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$3.03 ALL 246

-25.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$9.99 ALL 811

100.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$7.65 ALL 622

-52.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$13.44 ALL 1,092

0.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$0.84 ALL 67.9

285.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$2.23 ALL 181

-26.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$0.90 ALL 73.1

158.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$1.24 ALL 101

66.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$0.96 ALL 78.0

61.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$0.89 ALL 72.1

64.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$1.15 ALL 93.7

-14.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.76 ALL 61.5

-36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$3.96 ALL 321

9.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$9.46 ALL 769

96.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.70 ALL 138

9.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.80 ALL 146

47.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$0.45 ALL 36.46

215.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

$19.18 ALL 1,559

-39.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$3.44 ALL 280

-7.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$3.12 ALL 253

-66.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$17.89 ALL 1,453

-22.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$2.17 ALL 177

-38.25%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$35.0K ALL 2.8M

-20.68%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$25.0K ALL 2.0M

33.41%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$68.3 ALL 5,547

80.24%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$17.67 ALL 1,436

-22.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$11.68 ALL 949

56.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

$55.3 ALL 4,494

9.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

$25.10 ALL 2,039

-31.63%

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$8.35 ALL 678

6.23%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$93.2 ALL 7,573

637.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$41.02 ALL 3,333

44.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$34.29 ALL 2,786

1.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$91.2 ALL 7,411

26.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$142 ALL 11.6K

-41.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

$431 ALL 35.1K

44.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$273 ALL 22.2K

63.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

$601 ALL 48.8K

238.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$441 ALL 35.9K

238.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

$1,410 ALL 114.5K

145.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

$1,104 ALL 89.7K

129.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$663 ALL 53.9K

-25.55%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Korce: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $431 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $30.00 in Korce. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $234 – 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 33%, 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 $1,896 per month in Phuket and $1,425 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 66% less in Korce. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $688 per month in Phuket and $93.2 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 $950, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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.