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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,046 in Korce, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,554 in Korce, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $2,061 in Korce, rent included.

Phuket costs about 18% more than Korce, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Phuket and Korce are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Korce 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$6.38 ALL 504

-30.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$39.14 ALL 3,092

-17.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$6.13 ALL 484

45.68%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.00 ALL 158

45.00%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$1.95 ALL 154

-54.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.65 ALL 51.6

-26.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$2.49 ALL 197

-5.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$2.46 ALL 194

51.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$2.00 ALL 158

-6.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$0.99 ALL 78.4

48.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$2.13 ALL 169

-27.23%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$2.74 ALL 216

-23.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$10.51 ALL 830

86.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$8.84 ALL 698

-61.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$14.70 ALL 1,161

-22.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$1.29 ALL 102

131.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$2.28 ALL 180

-26.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.25 ALL 99.0

76.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$1.66 ALL 131

30.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$1.11 ALL 87.3

36.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$1.07 ALL 84.6

25.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$1.08 ALL 85.0

4.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.83 ALL 65.7

-33.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$4.28 ALL 338

-0.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$9.93 ALL 784

92.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$1.77 ALL 140

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$1.85 ALL 146

50.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

$0.61 ALL 48.47

265.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

$18.64 ALL 1,473

22.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$3.73 ALL 295

-18.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$3.86 ALL 305

-73.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$19.06 ALL 1,506

-79.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$2.19 ALL 173

-31.96%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$34.4K ALL 2.7M

-22.62%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$25.4K ALL 2.0M

6.25%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$63.6 ALL 5,023

61.17%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$18.53 ALL 1,464

-38.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$15.78 ALL 1,247

10.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$34.73 ALL 2,744

49.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

$18.58 ALL 1,468

-40.42%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$10.20 ALL 806

-24.61%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$227 ALL 17.9K

147.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$45.96 ALL 3,631

37.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$54.4 ALL 4,298

-45.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$107 ALL 8,465

-8.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$148 ALL 11.7K

-40.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$498 ALL 39.3K

48.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$298 ALL 23.6K

61.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$508 ALL 40.2K

314.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$319 ALL 25.2K

283.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

$1,429 ALL 112.9K

153.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

$1,129 ALL 89.2K

130.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$684 ALL 54.1K

-27.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Korce: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $498 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 39% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $39.00 in Korce. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $255 in Korce – so Korce wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 18%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,569 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 22% less in Korce. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $227 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 $1,046, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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.