Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kretinga Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kretinga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,329 in Kretinga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $2,054 in Kretinga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $2,780 in Kretinga.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 5% less than in Kretinga, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Kretinga 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kretinga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$12.88 €11.10
-63.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$52.0 €44.82
-38.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$7.15 €6.16
21.40%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$3.23 €2.78
-10.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$2.31 €1.99
-63.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$1.95 €1.68
-74.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$5.83 €5.02
-57.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$5.32 €4.58
-29.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kretinga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$1.33 €1.15
42.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$1.56 €1.35
-9.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$1.80 €1.56
-10.00%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$2.94 €2.54
-23.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$10.56 €9.11
87.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$6.08 €5.24
-42.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$9.82 €8.47
15.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$1.69 €1.46
71.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$1.44 €1.24
19.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$1.77 €1.53
28.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$3.10 €2.67
-31.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$0.81 €0.70
81.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$0.82 €0.71
73.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$1.51 €1.31
-27.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$0.83 €0.72
-27.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$5.93 €5.12
-27.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$8.89 €7.66
109.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$1.74 €1.50
3.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$1.74 €1.50
70.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kretinga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$1.33 €1.15
69.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
$36.81 €31.73
-36.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$3.13 €2.70
-0.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$0.89 €0.77
21.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$13.81 €11.91
-71.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$1.85 €1.59
-22.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$28.3K €24.4K
-1.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$30.1K €25.9K
-10.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kretinga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$215 €185
-51.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$14.66 €12.63
-22.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$14.57 €12.56
20.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kretinga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$49.51 €42.68
9.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
$21.24 €18.31
-46.14%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$9.12 €7.86
-14.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kretinga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$457 €394
26.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$9,624 €8,296
20.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kretinga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$94.9 €81.8
-32.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$41.53 €35.80
-29.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$83.0 €71.6
15.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$134 €116
-32.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kretinga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$551 €475
33.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$319 €275
56.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$799 €689
166.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$711 €612
76.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
$2,626 €2,264
34.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$2,048 €1,766
28.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kretinga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$1,440 €1,242
-64.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4
39.25%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kretinga: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $551 in Kretinga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kretinga pays 184% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $52.0 in Kretinga. Groceries flip the comparison at $275 vs $229, with Kretinga 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 Kretinga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kretinga cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Kretinga?
On paper, salaries run 184% lower in Kretinga. 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 Kretinga?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $551 in Kretinga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 57% less than in Kretinga. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $457 in Kretinga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Kretinga?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,329 in Kretinga, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Kretinga. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Kretinga more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kretinga, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Kretinga?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Kretinga 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 5% less than in Kretinga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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