Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and LeobenCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Leoben
Monthly Cost of Living
ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,772 in Leoben.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,981 in Leoben.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $4,190 in Leoben.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 30% less than in Leoben, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Leoben is 32% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Leoben
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$21.15âŽ18.11
-78.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$57.1âŽ48.85
-17.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$11.51âŽ9.85
-23.20%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$3.47âŽ2.97
-13.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$3.03âŽ2.59
-75.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.58âŽ1.35
-76.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$4.50âŽ3.85
-45.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$3.96âŽ3.39
-8.84%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Leoben
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.47âŽ1.26
53.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$3.11âŽ2.66
-40.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.22âŽ1.90
0.90%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$4.02âŽ3.44
-42.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$17.65âŽ15.11
11.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$16.27âŽ13.93
-77.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$23.69âŽ20.28
-44.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.32âŽ1.99
46.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.25âŽ1.92
-27.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.23âŽ1.91
8.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$3.91âŽ3.35
-48.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.13âŽ1.82
-26.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.99âŽ1.71
-24.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.75âŽ1.50
-41.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.70âŽ0.60
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$6.66âŽ5.70
-33.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$6.59âŽ5.64
186.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.50âŽ1.29
18.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.76âŽ1.51
56.25%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Leoben
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$3.55âŽ3.04
-60.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$64.2âŽ54.9
-82.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$5.69âŽ4.87
-45.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.01âŽ0.87
-0.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$28.87âŽ24.71
-51.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.76âŽ1.51
-23.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$20.5KâŽ17.5K
32.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$23.3KâŽ19.9K
41.43%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Leoben
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$349âŽ299
-64.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$14.41âŽ12.33
-5.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$38.06âŽ32.58
-51.34%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Leoben
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$37.72âŽ32.29
62.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$40.58âŽ34.73
-58.50%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$13.48âŽ11.54
-31.82%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Leoben
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$214âŽ183
225.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$4,473âŽ3,829
248.56%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Leoben
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$52.0âŽ44.47
11.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$34.05âŽ29.14
3.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$102âŽ87.6
10.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$127âŽ108
-31.73%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Leoben
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$479âŽ410
28.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$421âŽ360
6.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,154âŽ988
77.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,301âŽ1,114
14.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$4,089âŽ3,500
-7.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,958âŽ2,532
-10.44%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Leoben
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$2,859âŽ2,447
-81.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
2.75
93.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Leoben: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $479 in Leoben. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Leoben pays 446% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $57.0 in Leoben for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $380 per month, with Phuket 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 Leoben: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Leoben?
Phuket and Leoben differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $1,772 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Leoben earns 446% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Leoben?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $479 in Leoben. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Leoben?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 459% less than in Leoben. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Leoben?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $214 in Leoben. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,772 in Leoben, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Leoben. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Leoben?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Leoben safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Leoben are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Leoben?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 44% less than in Leoben. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.