ðA single person spends $1,247 per month in Phuket vs $1,548 in L'Aquila, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,276 per month in Phuket vs $2,395 in L'Aquila, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,306 per month in Phuket vs $3,242 in L'Aquila, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 19% cheaper than L'Aquila, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 7% below the global median, while L'Aquila is 15% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59āļŋ147
$20.98âŽ17.85
-78.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83āļŋ1,501
$74.4âŽ63.4
-37.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70āļŋ279
$12.87âŽ10.95
-32.40%
Cappuccino
$2.92āļŋ93.7
$1.79âŽ1.53
63.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68āļŋ21.92
$2.79âŽ2.37
-75.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40āļŋ12.70
$1.34âŽ1.14
-70.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51āļŋ80.4
$5.52âŽ4.70
-54.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ122
$5.82âŽ4.95
-34.71%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16āļŋ69.3
$1.46âŽ1.25
47.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88āļŋ60.3
$2.97âŽ2.52
-36.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16āļŋ69.2
$2.46âŽ2.09
-12.20%
Eggs
$2.22āļŋ71.2
$3.42âŽ2.91
-35.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57āļŋ627
$13.36âŽ11.37
46.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80āļŋ122
$12.48âŽ10.62
-69.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41āļŋ430
$16.81âŽ14.30
-20.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26āļŋ104
$2.26âŽ1.92
44.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.7
$1.92âŽ1.63
-16.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31āļŋ74.0
$2.28âŽ1.94
1.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06āļŋ66.0
$3.03âŽ2.58
-32.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.5
$1.59âŽ1.35
1.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44āļŋ46.26
$1.65âŽ1.41
-12.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.01
$1.51âŽ1.29
-31.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48āļŋ15.39
$0.42âŽ0.36
14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50āļŋ144
$6.98âŽ5.94
-35.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18āļŋ615
$6.03âŽ5.14
218.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82āļŋ58.4
$1.39âŽ1.19
30.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69āļŋ86.2
$1.65âŽ1.41
63.03%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38āļŋ44.16
$1.69âŽ1.44
-18.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76āļŋ377
$35.24âŽ29.99
-66.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11āļŋ99.6
$5.28âŽ4.49
-41.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.18
$1.65âŽ1.40
-39.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74āļŋ441
$25.80âŽ21.96
-46.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.61
$2.09âŽ1.78
-37.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
$33.3KâŽ28.3K
-17.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$33.4KâŽ28.5K
-1.28%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,004
$187âŽ159
-33.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74āļŋ440
$14.10âŽ12.00
-2.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61āļŋ597
$31.94âŽ27.18
-41.73%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6āļŋ1,941
$57.7âŽ49.07
5.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15āļŋ550
$29.20âŽ24.85
-41.27%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01āļŋ289
$8.49âŽ7.22
6.12%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.4K
$530âŽ451
31.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
$5,880âŽ5,004
174.01%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2āļŋ1,898
$93.6âŽ79.6
-36.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86āļŋ1,118
$17.48âŽ14.88
99.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114āļŋ3,662
$93.1âŽ79.2
22.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8āļŋ2,751
$79.5âŽ67.7
7.92%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619āļŋ19.8K
$624âŽ531
-0.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437āļŋ14.0K
$494âŽ421
-11.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
$979âŽ833
112.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
$810âŽ689
86.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
$2,957âŽ2,516
27.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
$1,758âŽ1,496
53.26%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
L'Aquila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528āļŋ16.9K
$2,006âŽ1,707
-73.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.69
44.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for L'Aquila: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $624 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.
ð°Salaries run about 280% higher in L'Aquila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Phuket versus $74 in L'Aquila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $309 â 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: $1,247 in Phuket, $1,548 in L'Aquila â roughly 24% 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 $1,870 per month in Phuket and $2,321 in L'Aquila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â 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 200% 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 $698 per month in Phuket and $530 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 $1,247, than in L'Aquila at $1,548. 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 $1,247 in Phuket to $1,548 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 â 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.