😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $203 in Lelydorp.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $404 in Lelydorp.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $606 in Lelydorp.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 522% more expensive than Lelydorp, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Lelydorp85% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Lelydorp
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$4.98SRD 185
-8.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$35.32SRD 1,313
32.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$5.86SRD 218
44.54%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$1.23SRD 45.59
-43.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.47SRD 17.55
-21.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$1.98SRD 73.8
25.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$3.08SRD 114
18.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lelydorp
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$1.22SRD 45.30
78.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$1.02SRD 38.05
86.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$1.22SRD 45.38
80.33%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$2.78SRD 104
-20.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$3.89SRD 144
-5.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$7.95SRD 296
66.67%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$1.53SRD 56.8
11.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.98SRD 36.28
62.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.97SRD 36.23
52.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.82SRD 30.61
-36.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$2.04SRD 75.9
-13.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lelydorp
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.49SRD 18.21
177.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$0.93SRD 34.54
44.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lelydorp
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lelydorp
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lelydorp
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lelydorp
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lelydorp
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lelydorp
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$302SRD 11.2K
67.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
17
-68.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Lelydorp: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Phuket pays 68% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Lelydorp for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $116 per month, with Lelydorp cheaper across the board.
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 Lelydorp: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Lelydorp?
Lelydorp wins on cost – living expenses run 522% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lelydorp the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Lelydorp?
Phuket pays 68% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Lelydorp?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $203 in Lelydorp – a 522% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Lelydorp?
Supermarket bills run roughly 153% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Lelydorp?
At $203 in Lelydorp versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lelydorp but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Lelydorp the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Lelydorp?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lelydorp delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $203 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lelydorp hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Lelydorp?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Lelydorp are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lelydorp gentler on the wallet – expenses run 522% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.