🙂A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,586 in L'Aquila, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $2,454 in L'Aquila, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $3,321 in L'Aquila, rent included.
🙂Phuket is about 20% cheaper than L'Aquila, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while L'Aquila is 18% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$20.59€17.73
-77.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$73.8€63.6
-38.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$12.93€11.14
-34.80%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$1.79€1.54
63.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$2.78€2.39
-75.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$1.34€1.15
-72.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$5.63€4.85
-57.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$5.62€4.84
-33.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.50€1.30
48.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$2.86€2.47
-36.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$2.37€2.04
-8.44%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$3.41€2.93
-35.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$13.32€11.46
48.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$12.51€10.77
-70.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$17.35€14.94
-22.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.23€1.92
47.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.85€1.59
-12.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.29€1.97
5.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$2.94€2.53
-29.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$1.63€1.40
-6.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$1.64€1.41
-9.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.47€1.27
-32.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.39€0.34
30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$6.86€5.91
-35.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$5.76€4.96
236.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.34€1.15
32.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$1.71€1.47
58.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$1.75€1.51
-21.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$34.10€29.36
-66.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$5.18€4.46
-41.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$1.70€1.47
-41.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$25.90€22.29
-45.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$2.10€1.81
-35.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$32.9K€28.3K
-14.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$33.7K€29.0K
-2.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$183€157
-33.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$13.80€11.88
-1.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$31.73€27.31
-42.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$56.8€48.93
5.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$28.86€24.85
-40.61%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$8.90€7.66
-2.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$538€463
28.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$5,812€5,004
169.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$95.5€82.2
-37.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$17.45€15.03
99.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$92.7€79.8
23.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$81.8€70.4
1.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$627€540
-2.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$502€432
-12.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$950€818
120.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$797€686
89.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$2,870€2,471
30.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$1,728€1,488
51.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$1,964€1,691
-74.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.69
44.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for L'Aquila: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $627 in L'Aquila. 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 287% higher in L'Aquila, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $74.0 in L'Aquila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $308 – 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 L'Aquila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and L'Aquila compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $1,586 in L'Aquila – roughly 25% apart. L'Aquila costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to L'Aquila?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $2,379 in L'Aquila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and L'Aquila?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and L'Aquila?
Public transport costs about 199% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and L'Aquila?
Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $538 in L'Aquila. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in L'Aquila at $1,586. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in L'Aquila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and L'Aquila?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,265 in Phuket to $1,586 in L'Aquila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or L'Aquila safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and L'Aquila?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, L'Aquila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.