Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kotor Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kotor

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,588 in Kotor.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,519 in Kotor.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,451 in Kotor.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 20% less than in Kotor, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Kotor is 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kotor
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$16.06 €13.81
-70.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$59.0 €50.8
-23.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$9.31 €8.01
-9.45%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$2.70 €2.32
8.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$2.29 €1.97
-69.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$1.43 €1.23
-74.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.81 €2.42
-14.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$3.81 €3.28
-2.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kotor
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.42 €1.22
57.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$0.98 €0.84
86.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$2.39 €2.06
-9.21%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$3.13 €2.69
-29.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$8.77 €7.54
125.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$7.90 €6.80
-54.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$12.23 €10.52
10.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.24 €1.06
164.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.82 €1.56
-11.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.68 €1.45
43.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$2.50 €2.15
-16.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.03 €0.89
48.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$1.11 €0.95
33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$1.77 €1.52
-44.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.81 €0.69
-37.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$4.26 €3.67
3.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$6.43 €5.53
201.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.27 €1.10
40.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$1.81 €1.56
49.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kotor
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$1.44 €1.24
-4.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$38.15 €32.81
-70.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$0.71 €0.61
325.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$1.07 €0.92
-7.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$11.59 €9.97
21.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.76 €1.51
-22.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$28.6K €24.6K
-1.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$27.1K €23.3K
21.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kotor
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$125 €107
-2.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$18.71 €16.09
-27.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$32.30 €27.78
-43.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kotor
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$44.00 €37.85
36.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$14.49 €12.47
18.29%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$5.80 €4.99
49.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kotor
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$290 €250
138.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$7,544 €6,489
107.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kotor
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$85.4 €73.5
-30.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$44.44 €38.23
-21.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$94.7 €81.4
21.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$111 €95.4
-24.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kotor
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$702 €604
-12.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$664 €572
-34.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$1,254 €1,079
67.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$1,325 €1,140
13.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$4,106 €3,532
-8.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$2,890 €2,486
-9.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kotor
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$980 €843
-48.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.93
-10.12%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kotor: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $702 in Kotor. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kotor pays 93% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $59.0 in Kotor. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $230, with Kotor cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kotor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kotor cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Kotor?
On paper, Kotor earns 93% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Kotor?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $702 in Kotor. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $290 in Kotor. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Kotor?
Shoppers in Kotor pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Kotor?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,588 in Kotor, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kotor. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Kotor more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kotor, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Kotor?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kotor are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Kotor. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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