Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lopburi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lopburi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $812 in Lopburi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,257 in Lopburi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,702 in Lopburi.

Living in Phuket is roughly 56% more expensive than Lopburi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Lopburi 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$1.37 ฿44.67
243.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$12.43 ฿406
265.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$4.75 ฿155
77.47%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$1.22 ฿39.81
140.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$0.69 ฿22.47
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.32 ฿10.61
15.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.95 ฿63.7
23.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$3.62 ฿118
2.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.26 ฿41.01
76.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$1.46 ฿47.70
25.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.13 ฿36.87
92.04%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$1.90 ฿62.1
16.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$13.22 ฿432
49.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$2.83 ฿92.4
28.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$10.75 ฿351
25.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.40 ฿45.76
134.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$0.80 ฿26.08
101.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.20 ฿39.14
100.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$1.50 ฿48.99
38.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.61 ฿52.5
-4.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$0.96 ฿31.49
54.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.76 ฿24.70
30.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.42 ฿13.87
21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$4.60 ฿150
-4.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$14.49 ฿473
33.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.66 ฿54.3
7.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$3.48 ฿114
-22.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.95 ฿31.08
44.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$1.06 ฿34.57
184.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$0.70 ฿22.95
41.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$5.33 ฿174
164.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.35 ฿44.02
0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$19.7K ฿642.2K
43.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$21.4K ฿700.3K
53.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$72.4 ฿2,366
68.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$13.01 ฿425
4.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$9.02 ฿294
102.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$48.96 ฿1,599
23.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$12.30 ฿402
39.35%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$7.57 ฿247
14.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$141 ฿4,597
392.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$6,142 ฿200.6K
155.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$19.57 ฿639
204.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$24.87 ฿812
39.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$61.7 ฿2,015
85.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$56.7 ฿1,853
46.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$416 ฿13.6K
47.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$290 ฿9,463
50.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$820 ฿26.8K
155.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$656 ฿21.4K
130.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$2,225 ฿72.7K
68.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$1,472 ฿48.1K
77.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.17
-13.61%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lopburi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $416 in Lopburi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $12.00 in Lopburi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $209 per month, with Lopburi 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 Lopburi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lopburi cheaper than Phuket?
Lopburi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $1,217 in Lopburi 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Lopburi?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $416 in Lopburi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $141 in Lopburi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Lopburi?
Dining out is cheaper in Lopburi – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Lopburi?
At $812 in Lopburi versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lopburi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Lopburi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Lopburi more family-friendly?
For families, Lopburi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Lopburi?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Lopburi 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lopburi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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