Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Larnaca

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,190 a month against $1,705 in Larnaca, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,190
/mo nomad
Larnaca
🇨🇾 Cyprus
$1,705
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Larnaca

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 Larnaca actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,190 per month in Phuket vs $1,705 in Larnaca, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,190
  • Larnaca $1,705

A couple spends around $2,006 per month in Phuket vs $2,581 in Larnaca, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,006
  • Larnaca $2,581

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Phuket vs $3,456 in Larnaca, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,822
  • Larnaca $3,456

Phuket is about 30% cheaper than Larnaca, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 11% below the global median, while Larnaca is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Larnaca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35 ฿146
$13.31 €11.88
-67.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.45 ฿1,087
$53.7 €47.91
-39.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.42 ฿282
$7.85 €7.01
7.26%
Cappuccino
$2.81 ฿94.0
$3.72 €3.32
-24.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.29
$1.66 €1.48
-47.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ฿15.39
$1.03 €0.92
-55.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$3.32 €2.96
-21.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 ฿122
$4.68 €4.17
-22.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Larnaca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿57.2
$1.62 €1.45
5.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.42
$2.00 €1.78
-27.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.3
$2.88 €2.57
-45.83%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.3
$4.21 €3.76
-50.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.53 ฿654
$13.87 €12.38
40.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
$8.42 €7.52
-59.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿373
$11.41 €10.18
-2.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 ฿94.8
$2.76 €2.47
2.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.3
$2.36 €2.11
-31.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 ฿74.5
$1.70 €1.52
30.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 ฿71.9
$2.68 €2.39
-19.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 ฿49.95
$1.39 €1.24
7.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.40
$1.18 €1.05
12.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.72
$0.87 €0.78
22.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.01
$1.08 €0.96
-52.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ฿147
$5.51 €4.91
-20.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.77 ฿629
$8.09 €7.22
132.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.3
$1.92 €1.72
-9.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$2.47 €2.20
12.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Larnaca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.17 ฿72.6
$2.73 €2.44
-20.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.28 ฿746
$55.4 €49.40
-59.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿101
$7.23 €6.45
-58.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.43
$2.21 €1.97
-52.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 ฿124
$22.70 €20.26
-83.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.88
$1.63 €1.46
-12.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿882.1K
$33.0K €29.5K
-20.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K ฿877.3K
$31.8K €28.4K
-17.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Larnaca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.7 ฿3,236
$183 €163
-47.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41 ฿382
$18.65 €16.64
-38.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11 ฿573
$30.39 €27.12
-43.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Larnaca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 ฿1,768
$60.9 €54.4
-13.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿371
$24.61 €21.96
-55.02%
Cinema Ticket
$7.65 ฿256
$11.39 €10.16
-32.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Larnaca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$555 ฿18.6K
$382 €341
45.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿377.7K
$7,467 €6,664
51.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Larnaca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4 ฿2,123
$66.6 €59.4
-4.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.61 ฿958
$32.76 €29.23
-12.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 ฿3,238
$67.4 €60.1
43.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 ฿2,967
$93.9 €83.8
-5.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Larnaca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$735 ฿24.6K
$915 €817
-19.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$458 ฿15.3K
$685 €611
-33.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 ฿70.4K
$1,683 €1,502
24.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 ฿39.7K
$1,204 €1,074
-1.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,493 ฿116.9K
$3,713 €3,314
-5.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,491 ฿83.4K
$2,019 €1,802
23.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Larnaca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.8K
$1,897 €1,693
-73.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.1
35.85%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026

Last update for Larnaca: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$458
Larnaca
$685 49.5% $227
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Larnaca
$284 6.1% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Larnaca
$232 85.4% $107
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$125
Larnaca
$117 6% $7.5
Eating Out
Phuket
$119
Larnaca
$211 77.3% $92
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Larnaca
$84 22.9% $16
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Larnaca
$85 115% $45

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $735 in Phuket versus $915 in Larnaca. 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 279% higher in Larnaca, 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $54.0 in Larnaca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $284 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇾 Larnaca
🕒 Local time
15:30 3:30 PM
11:30 11:30 AM
4 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
51,468
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Larnaca 7,210 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Larnaca

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 Larnaca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Larnaca?
Larnaca costs about 43% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Larnaca?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,785 per month in Phuket and $2,558 in Larnaca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Larnaca?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Larnaca?
Groceries cost about 6% more in Larnaca, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Larnaca?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $54.0 in Larnaca. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Larnaca?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,190, than in Larnaca at $1,705. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Larnaca it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Larnaca?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,190 versus $1,705 in Larnaca. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Larnaca?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or to Larnaca?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Larnaca makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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