Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kruje Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kruje

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,132 in Kruje.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,690 in Kruje.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,249 in Kruje.

Living in Phuket is roughly 9% more expensive than in Kruje, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Kruje 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$10.25 ALL 813

-56.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,073

$39.97 ALL 3,169

-19.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

$7.43 ALL 589

20.19%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.3

$1.96 ALL 156

47.96%

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

$0.88 ฿29.27

$1.94 ALL 154

-54.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.00

$0.70 ALL 55.7

-31.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.2

$2.56 ALL 203

-8.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$3.51 ALL 278

5.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.0

$2.00 ALL 159

-6.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.75

$0.93 ALL 73.9

58.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$2.14 ALL 170

-27.57%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿69.9

$2.66 ALL 211

-21.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿651

$10.33 ALL 819

89.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$8.97 ALL 711

-61.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿378

$14.29 ALL 1,133

-20.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.2

$1.97 ALL 156

51.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.0

$2.29 ALL 181

-26.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$1.68 ALL 133

31.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿71.9

$1.64 ALL 130

31.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$1.04 ALL 82.4

46.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

$1.26 ALL 99.8

6.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.53

$1.19 ALL 94.1

-5.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.17

$0.82 ALL 64.9

-32.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$4.30 ALL 341

-0.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

$10.03 ALL 796

90.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$1.75 ALL 139

1.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.5

$1.91 ALL 152

45.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.1

$0.57 ALL 45.31

291.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿756

$21.79 ALL 1,728

4.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$3.78 ALL 300

-19.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.02

$3.82 ALL 303

-73.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿129

$18.54 ALL 1,470

-79.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.57

$2.27 ALL 180

-34.36%

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

$26.6K ฿883.8K

$35.2K ALL 2.8M

-24.45%

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

$27.0K ฿898.7K

$25.2K ALL 2.0M

7.23%

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

$102 ฿3,407

$62.5 ALL 4,955

63.95%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$16.40 ALL 1,300

-30.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿578

$17.92 ALL 1,421

-2.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,732

$57.9 ALL 4,588

-9.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$8.95 ALL 710

-14.08%

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

$561 ฿18.6K

$101 ALL 8,029

453.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿382.6K

$8,285 ALL 656.9K

38.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,096

$49.43 ALL 3,919

27.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿982

$47.08 ALL 3,733

-37.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,259

$99.0 ALL 7,853

-1.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,943

$115 ALL 9,129

-23.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.5K

$470 ALL 37.3K

56.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.0K

$291 ALL 23.0K

65.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.0K

$805 ALL 63.8K

161.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$538 ALL 42.7K

127.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.3K

$1,859 ALL 147.4K

94.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.5K

$1,210 ALL 96.0K

115.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

$681 ALL 54.0K

-27.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kruje: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $470 in Kruje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kruje pays 38% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $40.00 in Kruje. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $259, with Kruje 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 Kruje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Kruje differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $1,132 including rent). Kruje is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 38% lower in Kruje. 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: $738 in Phuket versus $470 in Kruje. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $1,132 in Kruje – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kruje runs roughly 4% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,132 in Kruje versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kruje but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Kruje 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 Kruje 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 Kruje gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.