Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Koror Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Koror

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,665 in Koror.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $2,691 in Koror.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $3,718 in Koror.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 24% less than in Koror, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Koror is 24% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$11.82 $11.82

-61.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$75.9 $75.9

-38.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$10.20 $10.20

-16.96%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$4.02 $4.02

-24.63%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$1.35 $1.35

-48.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$1.10 $1.10

-66.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$1.53 $1.53

62.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.21 $2.21

65.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$2.67 $2.67

-18.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$3.52 $3.52

-46.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$0.24 $0.24

816.67%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$6.10 $6.10

-63.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$10.10 $10.10

97.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$14.13 $14.13

-74.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$19.39 $19.39

-31.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$5.30 $5.30

-39.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$2.17 $2.17

-21.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$5.44 $5.44

-56.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$16.48 $16.48

-87.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$4.57 $4.57

-65.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$3.29 $3.29

-55.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$2.05 $2.05

-49.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$1.69 $1.69

-69.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$11.34 $11.34

-62.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$22.88 $22.88

-17.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$3.48 $3.48

-49.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$3.28 $3.28

-15.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$2.47 $2.47

27.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$6.04 $6.04

127.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.74 $1.74

-22.99%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$17.2K $17.2K

60.59%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$14.8K $14.8K

128.63%

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

$124 ฿4,025

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

$13.52 ฿440

$51.6 $51.6

-73.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$131 $131

-85.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$54.2 $54.2

14.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$201 $201

249.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$1,893 $1,893

738.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$62.7 $62.7

-5.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$52.7 $52.7

-33.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$147 $147

-21.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$192 $192

-56.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$752 $752

-17.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$544 $544

-20.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$1,770 $1,770

16.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$971 $971

55.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$777 $777

-34.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Koror: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $752 in Koror. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Koror pays 53% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $76.0 in Koror for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $508 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 Koror: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Koror differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $1,665 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Koror earns 53% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $752 in Koror. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Koror. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $1,665 in Koror – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,665 in Koror, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Koror. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Koror are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Koror. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.