Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lipari

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,294 a month against $1,717 in Lipari, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Lipari, Italy
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Lipari
🇮🇹 Italy
$1,717
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Lipari

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Phuket versus $1,717 in Lipari.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • Lipari $1,717

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,204 in Phuket versus $2,668 in Lipari.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • Lipari $2,668

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,115 in Phuket versus $3,618 in Lipari.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • Lipari $3,618

Living in Phuket costs roughly 25% less than in Lipari, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 4% below, Lipari is 27% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Lipari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿147
$18.07 €16.10
-75.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,078
$73.7 €65.6
-56.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿290
$9.89 €8.81
-12.03%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿90.9
$2.55 €2.27
6.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.06
$3.11 €2.77
-70.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.67
$1.41 €1.26
-64.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.5
$5.55 €4.94
-54.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿121
$4.88 €4.35
-25.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lipari
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$1.58 €1.41
10.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.42
$2.18 €1.94
-33.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.1
$2.92 €2.60
-48.63%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.5
$4.32 €3.85
-49.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿637
$16.68 €14.86
14.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿113
$11.71 €10.43
-70.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿364
$22.27 €19.84
-51.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿98.2
$2.57 €2.29
14.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.5
$2.12 €1.89
-20.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.2
$2.66 €2.37
-17.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿70.9
$3.03 €2.70
-30.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.68
$2.10 €1.87
-30.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿45.66
$1.78 €1.59
-23.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿35.91
$1.36 €1.21
-20.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.21
$0.58 €0.52
-5.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿148
$7.25 €6.46
-38.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿609
$7.07 €6.29
158.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.2
$1.72 €1.53
2.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿96.2
$2.51 €2.23
14.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lipari
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.32
$2.01 €1.79
-27.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,832
$38.39 €34.19
42.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿50.5
$4.65 €4.14
-67.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿25.90
$1.62 €1.44
-51.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿128
$31.31 €27.89
-87.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.65
$2.78 €2.48
-46.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿897.3K
$37.2K €33.1K
-27.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.4K
$34.2K €30.4K
-22.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lipari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,265
$206 €183
-52.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿377
$10.34 €9.21
9.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿574
$27.32 €24.34
-37.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lipari
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,281
$55.5 €49.47
23.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿365
$25.18 €22.43
-56.63%
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿248
$9.88 €8.80
-24.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lipari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.7K
$508 €453
4.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿626.9K
$11.5K €10.2K
63.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lipari
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,059
$102 €90.9
-39.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿943
$34.07 €30.35
-17.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,204
$84.9 €75.6
13.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,898
$139 €124
-37.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lipari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.1K
$731 €652
-1.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.0K
$574 €511
-11.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.1K
$1,179 €1,050
65.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿46.6K
$994 €886
40.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿139.9K
$3,358 €2,991
24.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿110.1K
$2,156 €1,920
53.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lipari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.31
68.28%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Lipari: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
Lipari
$574 12.8% $65
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
Lipari
$343 28.7% $77
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
Lipari
$243 92.7% $117
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
Lipari
$162 32% $39
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
Lipari
$260 118% $141
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
Lipari
$75 9.5% $7.9
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
Lipari
$59 10.4% $6.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Phuket and $731 in Lipari. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $74 in Lipari for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $343 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇮🇹 Lipari
🕒 Local time
06:55 6:55 AM
00:55 12:55 AM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
12,675
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.38 THB (100 THB = 3 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Lipari 8,890 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Lipari

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 Lipari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Lipari?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,294 in Phuket and $1,717 in Lipari, so Phuket is about 25% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Lipari?
You’d need roughly $1,940 in Phuket and $2,576 in Lipari to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Lipari?
Rent for a central apartment: $721 in Phuket versus $731 in Lipari. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Lipari?
All in, you’ll spend $1,294 per month in Phuket versus $1,717 in Lipari – Phuket is about 25% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and in Lipari?
A monthly transit pass in Lipari runs roughly 30% less than in Phuket. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,294 in Phuket versus $1,717 in Lipari, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Lipari. 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 Lipari?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Lipari safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Lipari are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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