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: $1,253 in Phuket versus $807 in Lopburi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $1,280 in Lopburi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $1,753 in Lopburi.

Living in Phuket is roughly 55% more expensive than in Lopburi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 9% lower, Lopburi 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿151
$1.36 ฿45.05
235.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62 ฿1,082
$12.05 ฿400
170.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 ฿295
$4.45 ฿148
100.00%
Cappuccino
$2.80 ฿93.0
$1.20 ฿39.69
133.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.19
$0.71 ฿23.70
23.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.23
$0.30 ฿9.90
63.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 ฿79.2
$2.19 ฿72.6
9.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿123
$2.88 ฿95.7
28.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ฿59.3
$1.24 ฿41.27
44.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿47.81
$1.30 ฿43.22
10.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 ฿52.6
$1.26 ฿41.92
25.40%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿70.5
$1.78 ฿59.1
19.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.92 ฿661
$12.82 ฿425
55.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 ฿114
$2.55 ฿84.5
34.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.33 ฿376
$10.20 ฿338
11.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿97.8
$1.42 ฿47.03
107.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.1
$0.95 ฿31.68
81.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 ฿77.1
$1.18 ฿39.28
96.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿69.0
$1.69 ฿56.0
23.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.77
$1.86 ฿61.5
-20.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.05
$0.89 ฿29.37
52.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.45
$0.84 ฿28.01
30.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ฿19.06
$0.42 ฿13.88
35.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿142
$4.69 ฿156
-8.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.42 ฿611
$14.45 ฿479
27.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 ฿62.1
$1.72 ฿57.0
8.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ฿96.9
$2.54 ฿84.1
14.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿73.6
$0.89 ฿29.59
149.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.90 ฿759
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$1.26 ฿41.66
140.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 ฿35.63
$1.64 ฿54.5
-34.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.93 ฿130
$3.99 ฿132
-1.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.49
$1.40 ฿46.44
6.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K ฿899.8K
$16.9K ฿560.3K
60.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ฿910.6K
$27.6K ฿915.5K
-0.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 ฿3,410
$83.1 ฿2,756
23.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99 ฿365
$9.75 ฿323
12.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51 ฿581
$9.33 ฿309
87.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 ฿1,776
$48.37 ฿1,605
10.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20 ฿371
$14.38 ฿477
-22.11%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48 ฿248
$6.60 ฿219
13.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$557 ฿18.5K
$749 ฿24.8K
-25.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ฿393.2K
$6,178 ฿204.9K
91.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 ฿2,125
$6.04 ฿200
960.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07 ฿964
$30.37 ฿1,007
-4.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,183
$74.5 ฿2,471
28.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ฿2,997
$54.9 ฿1,820
64.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 ฿24.2K
$471 ฿15.6K
55.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 ฿16.6K
$291 ฿9,643
71.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 ฿69.3K
$1,230 ฿40.8K
69.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 ฿40.1K
$710 ฿23.6K
70.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,596 ฿119.3K
$1,989 ฿66.0K
80.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,512 ฿83.3K
$1,621 ฿53.8K
54.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lopburi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿16.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.3
-11.59%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lopburi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $471 in Lopburi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $12.00 in Lopburi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $204 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, Getting Around. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,880 in Phuket and $1,210 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: $730 in Phuket versus $471 in Lopburi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $557 in Phuket versus $749 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 in Lopburi?
Dining out is cheaper in Lopburi – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $33.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Lopburi?
At $807 in Lopburi versus $1,253 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 55% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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