Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and La Marsa Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and La Marsa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $758 in La Marsa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,346 in La Marsa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,935 in La Marsa, rent included.

Phuket costs about 66% more than La Marsa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and La Marsa are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, La Marsa 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$3.35 TND 9.77

36.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$21.69 TND 63.3

114.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$4.09 TND 11.94

107.09%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$0.71 TND 2.07

326.76%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.65 TND 1.89

6.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.25 TND 0.73

48.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$1.49 TND 4.36

67.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.50 TND 7.30

46.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$0.51 TND 1.48

327.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.18 TND 0.54

955.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.51 TND 4.39

45.70%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$1.59 TND 4.63

39.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$11.07 TND 32.31

80.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$5.62 TND 16.40

-34.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$13.31 TND 38.84

-0.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.88 TND 5.49

71.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$3.02 TND 8.81

-43.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$1.05 TND 3.05

127.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$0.67 TND 1.97

210.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.64 TND 1.88

148.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$0.50 TND 1.47

196.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.37 TND 1.07

178.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.25 TND 0.73

108.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$3.42 TND 9.96

24.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$7.00 TND 20.43

168.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.10 TND 3.21

60.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$1.05 TND 3.06

162.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.33 TND 0.96

312.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$6.75 TND 19.70

68.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$0.29 TND 0.84

982.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$0.22 TND 0.64

372.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$4.14 TND 12.09

232.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$0.88 TND 2.56

52.27%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$34.8K TND 101.5K

-20.47%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$26.9K TND 78.4K

25.95%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$34.87 TND 102

254.43%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$9.87 TND 28.80

36.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$14.60 TND 42.61

28.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$45.21 TND 132

36.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$7.44 TND 21.69

131.85%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$4.47 TND 13.03

104.47%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$85.8 TND 250

718.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$2,413 TND 7,039

557.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$44.40 TND 130

33.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$44.25 TND 129

-20.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$90.0 TND 263

28.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$64.2 TND 187

30.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$352 TND 1,027

75.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$279 TND 815

54.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$776 TND 2,263

165.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$829 TND 2,420

82.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

$1,842 TND 5,374

97.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

$1,070 TND 3,120

145.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$348 TND 1,014

45.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

13.6

-60.81%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for La Marsa: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $352 in La Marsa. 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 46% higher in Phuket, 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $22.00 in La Marsa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $185 – making La Marsa 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 La Marsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 66%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,136 in La Marsa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in La Marsa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $758 in La Marsa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 68% less in La Marsa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Marsa, where all-in costs run around $758, than in Phuket at $1,261. In La Marsa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward La Marsa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with La Marsa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.