Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lyon

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,050 in Lyon, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Lyon, France
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Lyon
🇫🇷 France
$2,050
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Lyon

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

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $2,050 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Lyon $2,050

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $3,182 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Lyon $3,182

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $4,315 in Lyon, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Lyon $4,315

Phuket is about 38% cheaper than Lyon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Lyon is 51% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Lyon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$16.86 €15.10
-73.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,093
$67.5 €60.5
-51.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$13.67 €12.25
-35.55%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$4.12 €3.69
-31.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.41
$2.76 €2.47
-68.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.65
$1.65 €1.48
-70.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$7.60 €6.80
-66.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$6.08 €5.44
-39.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lyon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$1.57 €1.41
5.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.31
$1.72 €1.54
-15.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$2.45 €2.20
-38.78%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$4.74 €4.25
-55.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$22.95 €20.55
-16.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$12.21 €10.93
-72.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$22.99 €20.59
-52.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$2.41 €2.16
21.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$2.51 €2.24
-32.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$3.43 €3.07
-34.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$3.19 €2.85
-34.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$2.50 €2.24
-39.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.52
$2.94 €2.64
-53.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.96
$1.41 €1.27
-24.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$1.07 €0.96
-51.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$13.89 €12.44
-69.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$7.77 €6.96
141.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$2.66 €2.38
-31.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.8
$3.25 €2.91
-12.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lyon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.98
$2.42 €2.16
-40.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$82.3 €73.7
-31.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$8.39 €7.52
-64.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.33
$2.20 €1.97
-53.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$41.20 €36.89
-91.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.76
$2.21 €1.98
-33.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.4K
$34.4K €30.8K
-22.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.5K
$37.6K €33.6K
-28.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lyon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,251
$268 €240
-64.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$14.01 €12.55
-19.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$29.09 €26.06
-42.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lyon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,268
$36.88 €33.03
82.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$28.38 €25.41
-62.19%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$15.33 €13.73
-51.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lyon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$628 €563
-24.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.0K
$11.2K €10.0K
0.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lyon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,104
$108 €96.5
-42.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿958
$43.36 €38.84
-34.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,181
$122 €109
-22.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,895
$127 €114
-32.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lyon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$891 €798
-19.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$702 €629
-30.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$1,879 €1,683
2.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$1,369 €1,226
4.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$6,425 €5,755
-35.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.7K
$4,317 €3,866
-29.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lyon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$3,069 €2,748
-83.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.68
51.36%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Lyon: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Lyon
$702 43% $211
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Lyon
$385 44.4% $118
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Lyon
$311 150% $186
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Lyon
$180 47.7% $58
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Lyon
$293 141% $171
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Lyon
$68 17.9% $15
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Lyon
$111 57.8% $41

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $891 in Lyon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Lyon are about 6.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $68 in Lyon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $385 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇫🇷 Lyon
🕒 Local time
06:09 6:09 AM
00:09 12:09 AM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
522,250
💱 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 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Lyon 9,650 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Lyon

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 Lyon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Lyon?
Lyon costs about 60% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Lyon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $3,075 in Lyon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Lyon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $891 in Lyon.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Lyon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $2,050 in Lyon. That makes Phuket about 38% cheaper.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Lyon?
Public transport costs about 31% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Lyon?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Lyon at $2,050. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lyon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Lyon?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,278 versus $2,050 in Lyon. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Lyon?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Phuket or to Lyon?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lyon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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