Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lac Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lac

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,104 in Lac, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,625 in Lac, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $2,146 in Lac, rent included.

Phuket costs about 15% more than Lac, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Lac are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Lac 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$9.14 ALL 748

-48.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$37.27 ALL 3,049

21.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$7.08 ALL 579

19.07%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.88 ALL 154

55.85%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$1.56 ALL 128

-55.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.80 ALL 65.7

-53.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.40 ALL 196

0.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$3.26 ALL 267

14.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.96 ALL 160

13.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.90 ALL 73.9

103.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.95 ALL 159

11.28%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.91 ALL 238

-24.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$9.23 ALL 755

113.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$7.67 ALL 628

-52.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$13.38 ALL 1,095

1.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.81 ALL 148

81.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$2.30 ALL 188

-30.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.37 ALL 112

75.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.35 ALL 110

54.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.04 ALL 85.1

47.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.20 ALL 98.2

23.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.11 ALL 90.5

-10.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.74 ALL 60.3

-31.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$4.04 ALL 331

9.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$10.16 ALL 831

90.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.69 ALL 138

5.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.21 ALL 99.3

123.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.45 ALL 36.95

204.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$18.66 ALL 1,527

-38.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$3.58 ALL 293

-15.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$3.05 ALL 249

-67.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$17.47 ALL 1,429

-19.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$2.21 ALL 181

-38.46%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$34.6K ALL 2.8M

-18.52%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$25.9K ALL 2.1M

27.20%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$67.0 ALL 5,481

81.64%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$17.12 ALL 1,400

-20.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$15.67 ALL 1,282

16.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$55.0 ALL 4,498

9.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$24.97 ALL 2,043

-31.36%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$8.40 ALL 688

3.45%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$95.2 ALL 7,792

628.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$46.30 ALL 3,788

28.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$52.9 ALL 4,324

-34.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$92.4 ALL 7,558

24.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$140 ALL 11.5K

-40.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$455 ALL 37.2K

34.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$344 ALL 28.1K

27.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$622 ALL 50.9K

236.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$434 ALL 35.5K

247.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$2,080 ALL 170.2K

80.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$1,203 ALL 98.4K

117.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

33.25%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lac: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $455 in Lac. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $37.00 in Lac. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $239 – making Lac 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 Lac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 15%, 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,656 in Lac. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $95.2 in Lac. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Lac, where all-in costs run around $1,104, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Lac it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lac – 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 Lac. 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.