🙂A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $1,947 in Kortrijk, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $2,782 in Kortrijk, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $3,617 in Kortrijk, rent included.
🙂Phuket is about 35% cheaper than Kortrijk, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Phuket sits 5% below the global median, while Kortrijk is 46% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kortrijk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$23.02€19.93
-80.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$70.5€61.1
-35.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$11.47€9.94
-23.63%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$3.29€2.85
-9.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$3.06€2.65
-77.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$2.75€2.38
-85.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$4.58€3.97
-44.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$3.55€3.07
5.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kortrijk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.27€1.10
69.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$1.94€1.68
-6.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.31€1.14
66.41%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$2.70€2.33
-16.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$18.05€15.63
10.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$11.01€9.54
-67.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$16.99€14.71
-20.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$2.17€1.88
49.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$2.44€2.12
-32.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$2.13€1.84
9.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$2.09€1.81
-0.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$2.10€1.82
-26.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$2.35€2.04
-37.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$1.48€1.28
-33.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.80€0.69
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$12.53€10.85
-65.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$7.20€6.24
157.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.71€1.48
8.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$2.00€1.74
32.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kortrijk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$4.69€4.06
-69.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$57.3€49.63
-79.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$2.26€1.96
40.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$2.44€2.11
-57.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$45.85€39.71
-69.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.91€1.66
-29.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$29.9K€25.9K
-6.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$27.9K€24.2K
19.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kortrijk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$195€169
-36.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$22.99€19.91
-40.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$50.5€43.70
-63.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kortrijk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$51.3€44.42
18.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$11.53€9.99
48.83%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$13.94€12.07
-36.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kortrijk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$474€411
45.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$4,646€4,023
239.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kortrijk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$79.9€69.2
-25.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$30.70€26.59
13.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$101€87.8
13.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$117€102
-28.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kortrijk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$825€714
-24.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$702€608
-36.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$1,031€892
97.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$958€830
56.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$4,149€3,593
-16.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
$2,266€1,962
11.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kortrijk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$2,817€2,439
-82.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.27
63.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Kortrijk: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $825 in Kortrijk. 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 471% higher in Kortrijk, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $71.0 in Kortrijk. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $306 – making Phuket 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 Kortrijk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Kortrijk?
Kortrijk costs about 54% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Kortrijk?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $2,921 in Kortrijk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Kortrijk?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Kortrijk?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Kortrijk, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Kortrijk?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $71.0 in Kortrijk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Kortrijk?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Kortrijk at $1,947. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kortrijk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Kortrijk?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,264 versus $1,947 in Kortrijk. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Kortrijk?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or to Kortrijk?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kortrijk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.