Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Koura

For one person, living is cheaper in Koura: $1,223 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $660 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Phuket outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Phuket, Thailand
Koura, Lebanon
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Koura
🇱🇧 Lebanon
$1,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Koura

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Koura actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $1,223 in Koura, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Koura $1,223

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $1,925 in Koura, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Koura $1,925

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $2,628 in Koura, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Koura $2,628

Phuket costs about 5% more than Koura, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Phuket and Koura are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Koura 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Koura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$11.99 LBP 1.1M
-62.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,093
$69.7 LBP 6.2M
-53.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$10.17 LBP 910.0K
-13.37%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$4.56 LBP 408.3K
-37.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.41
$2.36 LBP 211.0K
-63.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.65
$0.83 LBP 74.7K
-40.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$4.88 LBP 437.0K
-47.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$4.68 LBP 418.8K
-21.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Koura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$2.00 LBP 178.6K
-17.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.31
$0.84 LBP 75.3K
73.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$2.16 LBP 193.2K
-30.56%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$3.67 LBP 328.2K
-43.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$10.98 LBP 983.1K
73.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$10.81 LBP 967.4K
-69.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$15.09 LBP 1.4M
-27.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$2.99 LBP 267.6K
-2.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$1.73 LBP 154.8K
-2.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.61 LBP 144.4K
39.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$1.48 LBP 132.6K
40.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.25 LBP 111.9K
20.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.52
$1.60 LBP 143.3K
-13.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.96
$1.18 LBP 105.4K
-9.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$0.67 LBP 60.0K
-22.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$3.01 LBP 269.5K
39.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$11.20 LBP 1.0M
67.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.28 LBP 114.6K
42.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.8
$2.47 LBP 221.3K
14.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Koura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.98
$2.05 LBP 183.4K
-29.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$5.14 LBP 460.4K
-41.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.33
$2.21 LBP 197.8K
-53.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$22.19 LBP 2.0M
-83.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.76
$0.95 LBP 84.9K
54.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.4K
$54.4K LBP 4.9B
-50.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.5K
$32.6K LBP 2.9B
-18.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Koura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,251
$215 LBP 19.2M
-55.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$23.66 LBP 2.1M
-52.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$37.94 LBP 3.4M
-55.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Koura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,268
$24.51 LBP 2.2M
174.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$9.82 LBP 878.9K
9.27%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$9.90 LBP 886.4K
-24.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Koura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$679 LBP 60.8M
-29.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.0K
$10.4K LBP 933.6M
7.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Koura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,104
$68.1 LBP 6.1M
-8.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿958
$50.1 LBP 4.5M
-43.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,181
$140 LBP 12.5M
-32.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,895
$121 LBP 10.8M
-29.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Koura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$245 LBP 21.9M
192.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$203 LBP 18.1M
142.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$453 LBP 40.6M
325.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$347 LBP 31.0M
312.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$1,132 LBP 101.3M
268.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.7K
$860 LBP 77.0M
253.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Koura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$602 LBP 53.9M
-16.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11
-49.36%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Koura: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Koura
$203 58.7% $288
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Koura
$277 3.9% $10
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Koura
$277 122% $152
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Koura
$170 39.9% $49
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Koura
$228 87.1% $106
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Koura
$44 46.1% $38
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Koura
$24 * 65.4% $46

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $245 in Koura. 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 20% higher in Koura, 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 in Phuket versus $70 in Koura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $277 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇱🇧 Koura
🕒 Local time
01:21 1:21 AM
20:21 8:21 PM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

LBP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Lebanese Pound exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 89,500 LBP (100,000 LBP = 1.12 USD). 1 EUR = 99,933 LBP (100,000 LBP = 1 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Koura 7,010 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Koura

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Koura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Koura?
Phuket costs about 5% more than Koura, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Koura?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $1,834 in Koura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Koura?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Koura, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $245 there versus $716 in Phuket.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Koura?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $1,223 in Koura. That makes Koura about 4% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Koura?
Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Phuket and $679 in Koura. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Koura?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,278 in Phuket and $1,223 in Koura. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Phuket or Koura?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,223 in Koura to $1,278 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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