Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lac

For one person, living is cheaper in Lac: $1,083 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Phuket outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
Learn more

Phuket Living Index
52

Cost of Living Index in Lac
Learn more

Lac Living Index

Jump to prices

Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

Lac

🇦🇱 Albania

$1,083

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Lac

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Lac actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $1,083 in Lac, rent included.

Phuket $1,278
Lac $1,083

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $1,653 in Lac, rent included.

Phuket $2,216
Lac $1,653

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $2,222 in Lac, rent included.

Phuket $3,154
Lac $2,222

Phuket costs about 18% more than Lac, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Phuket and Lac are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Lac 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$10.01 ALL 809

-55.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,094

$38.40 ALL 3,102

-15.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$7.21 ALL 582

22.19%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.5

$1.89 ALL 153

49.74%

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

$0.87 ฿29.43

$1.86 ALL 150

-53.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.67

$0.68 ALL 55.2

-27.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.4

$2.45 ALL 198

4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$3.42 ALL 277

7.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$1.89 ALL 153

-12.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.35

$0.94 ALL 75.7

55.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.6

$2.12 ALL 171

-29.25%

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$2.60 ALL 210

-19.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿644

$10.16 ALL 821

87.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

$8.48 ALL 685

-61.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

$14.48 ALL 1,169

-24.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿99.0

$1.87 ALL 151

56.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.1

$2.27 ALL 183

-25.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.44 ALL 117

56.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.1

$1.60 ALL 129

30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

$1.04 ALL 84.4

45.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

$1.25 ALL 101

10.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.99

$1.20 ALL 97.1

-10.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.52

$0.77 ALL 62.3

-32.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

$4.45 ALL 359

-5.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$7.94 ALL 641

136.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.5

$1.76 ALL 142

3.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.9

$1.25 ALL 101

127.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿49.03

$0.45 ALL 36.20

222.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,913

$19.51 ALL 1,576

190.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$3.74 ALL 302

-19.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.36

$3.93 ALL 318

-74.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿125

$18.36 ALL 1,483

-79.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.81

$2.26 ALL 182

-34.96%

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

$26.8K ฿904.3K

$33.8K ALL 2.7M

-20.74%

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

$26.7K ฿901.3K

$24.9K ALL 2.0M

7.28%

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

$96.4 ฿3,254

$62.2 ALL 5,025

54.88%

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

$11.26 ฿380

$16.50 ALL 1,333

-31.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿569

$17.11 ALL 1,382

-1.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,270

$52.5 ALL 4,243

27.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

$8.86 ALL 715

-15.35%

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

$476 ฿16.1K

$99.6 ALL 8,047

377.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿380.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,106

$49.88 ALL 4,029

25.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿959

$55.2 ALL 4,461

-48.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,184

$100 ALL 8,098

-5.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,898

$146 ALL 11.8K

-41.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.2K

$460 ALL 37.1K

55.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$313 ALL 25.3K

56.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.1K

$787 ALL 63.5K

144.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$448 ALL 36.2K

219.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿141.0K

$1,807 ALL 145.9K

131.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.8K

$1,126 ALL 90.9K

170.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿17.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Lac: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

Lac

$313 28.9% 36.2% $178

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

Lac

$247 22.8% 7.2% $19

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

Lac

$96 8.9% 23% $29

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Lac

$158 14.6% 29.7% $36

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Lac

$154 14.2% 26.3% $32

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

Lac

$70 6.5% 14.6% $12

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

Lac

$45 4.1% 36.6% $26

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $460 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 $32 in Phuket versus $38 in Lac. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Phuket vs $247 in Lac – so Lac wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇦🇱 Lac

🕒 Local time

00:39 12:39 AM

18:39 6:39 PM

6 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

17,086

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Albanian Lek ALL L

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 ALL = 1.24 USD

100 ALL = 1.11 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ALL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Albanian Lek exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 80.77 ALL (100 ALL = 1.24 USD). 1 EUR = 89.91 ALL (100 ALL = 1.11 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Phuket Lac 8,490 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Lac

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 18%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $1,624 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $460 there versus $716 in Phuket.

Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Phuket and $100 in Lac. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,278 in Phuket and $1,083 in Lac, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.