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 $1,140 in Lac, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,717 in Lac, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $2,295 in Lac, rent included.

Phuket costs about 11% more than Lac, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Phuket and Lac are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Lac 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

$9.86 ALL 779

-52.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,065

$39.57 ALL 3,125

-18.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

$7.35 ALL 581

18.10%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿95.8

$2.07 ALL 163

40.10%

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

$0.84 ฿27.89

$1.91 ALL 151

-56.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.16

$0.67 ALL 52.7

-26.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.0

$2.55 ALL 201

-2.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

$3.47 ALL 274

7.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ฿62.3

$2.07 ALL 163

-8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿46.54

$0.95 ALL 75.2

48.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

$2.06 ALL 163

-21.36%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.1

$2.71 ALL 214

-17.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.84 ฿656

$10.12 ALL 800

96.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿115

$8.92 ALL 704

-60.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

$14.72 ALL 1,162

-22.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.8

$1.84 ALL 145

57.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿57.0

$2.36 ALL 187

-27.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.1

$1.48 ALL 117

53.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.4

$1.64 ALL 129

29.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.72

$1.07 ALL 84.9

37.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.92

$1.30 ALL 103

9.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.25

$1.16 ALL 91.2

-5.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.76

$0.78 ALL 61.7

-23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

$4.48 ALL 354

-3.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

$9.93 ALL 784

87.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.5

$1.76 ALL 139

2.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.0

$1.23 ALL 97.4

141.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

$0.48 ALL 37.70

368.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

$20.09 ALL 1,586

16.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿102

$3.79 ALL 299

-18.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.56

$3.95 ALL 312

-72.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

$18.54 ALL 1,465

-79.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.16

$2.23 ALL 176

-35.87%

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

$27.8K ฿918.0K

$35.1K ALL 2.8M

-20.74%

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

$27.0K ฿891.5K

$25.3K ALL 2.0M

6.46%

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

$105 ฿3,462

$62.5 ALL 4,936

67.71%

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

$11.39 ฿376

$16.94 ALL 1,338

-32.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 ฿580

$17.63 ALL 1,392

-0.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

$57.9 ALL 4,571

-6.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

$8.96 ALL 707

-13.17%

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

$576 ฿19.0K

$102 ALL 8,025

467.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿382.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,103

$50.3 ALL 3,973

26.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿961

$57.3 ALL 4,523

-49.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 ฿3,179

$99.7 ALL 7,875

-3.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ฿2,974

$149 ALL 11.8K

-39.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ฿24.2K

$499 ALL 39.4K

46.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.5K

$335 ALL 26.4K

49.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ฿70.2K

$726 ALL 57.4K

192.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

$471 ALL 37.2K

165.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.8K

$1,856 ALL 146.6K

90.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.6K

$1,259 ALL 99.4K

108.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

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: September 6, 2026

Last update for Lac: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $499 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $40.00 in Lac. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Phuket vs $257 in Lac – so Lac wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 11%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,710 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 $576 per month in Phuket and $102 in Lac. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% 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 $1,140, 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.