🙂A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,782 in La Spezia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $2,655 in La Spezia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $3,527 in La Spezia, rent included.
🙂Phuket is about 29% cheaper than La Spezia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while La Spezia is 33% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
La Spezia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$17.57€15.13
-73.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,483
$81.4€70.1
-44.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿276
$9.70€8.36
-13.09%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.7
$1.96€1.69
49.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.42
$3.17€2.73
-78.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.00
$1.35€1.16
-72.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.7
$5.78€4.97
-58.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$4.79€4.13
-22.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
La Spezia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.0
$1.45€1.25
53.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.9
$2.04€1.76
-10.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.9
$2.56€2.20
-15.23%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.4
$4.04€3.48
-45.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$14.25€12.27
38.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$14.69€12.65
-75.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$19.20€16.54
-29.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.54€2.19
29.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.7
$2.10€1.81
-23.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.7
$2.46€2.12
-2.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$2.85€2.45
-27.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.97
$2.72€2.34
-43.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.41
$1.78€1.53
-16.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.32
$1.36€1.17
-27.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.68
$0.47€0.41
8.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$6.84€5.89
-35.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿634
$6.54€5.63
196.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.68€1.44
5.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.7
$1.99€1.72
36.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
La Spezia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.83
$1.70€1.47
-19.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$38.81€33.42
-70.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.7
$4.79€4.12
-36.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.51
$0.99€0.85
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$33.20€28.59
-57.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.55
$2.09€1.80
-34.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.9K
$28.0K€24.1K
0.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$27.0K€23.3K
21.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
La Spezia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,978
$265€228
-54.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$12.87€11.08
5.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿599
$31.31€26.96
-41.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
La Spezia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,969
$62.2€53.6
-3.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$17.55€15.11
-2.34%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$10.60€9.13
-18.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
La Spezia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.7K
$587€505
18.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.8K
$11.2K€9,639
40.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
La Spezia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,946
$66.4€57.2
-10.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,137
$43.38€37.36
-19.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,746
$82.6€71.1
38.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,723
$122€105
-31.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
La Spezia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$769€662
-20.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$608€524
-28.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.5K
$1,178€1,014
77.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$912€785
65.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.6K
$2,998€2,581
25.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.5K
$2,432€2,094
7.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
La Spezia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$1,799€1,549
-71.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.24
25.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for La Spezia: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $769 in La Spezia. 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 254% higher in La Spezia, 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 $81.0 in La Spezia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $333 – 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 La Spezia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Spezia cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – La Spezia is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $2,673 in La Spezia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $587 in La Spezia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and La Spezia?
Groceries cost about 14% more in La Spezia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or La Spezia?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in La Spezia at $1,782. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in La Spezia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or La Spezia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or La Spezia?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, La Spezia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.