Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Marathon Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Marathon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Phuket vs $2,466 in Marathon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,276 per month in Phuket vs $3,508 in Marathon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,306 per month in Phuket vs $4,549 in Marathon, rent included.

Phuket is about 49% cheaper than Marathon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 7% below the global median, while Marathon is 83% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.59 ฿147

$18.75 CA$25.68

-75.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.83 ฿1,501

$59.8 CA$81.9

-21.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.70 ฿279

$12.60 CA$17.26

-30.95%

Cappuccino

$2.92 ฿93.7

$3.68 CA$5.05

-20.65%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ฿21.92

$1.79 CA$2.46

-62.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿12.70

$1.48 CA$2.02

-72.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 ฿80.4

$5.21 CA$7.13

-51.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿122

$5.05 CA$6.92

-24.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.16 ฿69.3

$2.45 CA$3.36

-11.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.88 ฿60.3

$2.53 CA$3.46

-25.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 ฿69.2

$2.61 CA$3.57

-17.24%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿71.2

$2.94 CA$4.03

-24.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.57 ฿627

$8.78 CA$12.04

122.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.80 ฿122

$16.88 CA$23.12

-77.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.41 ฿430

$16.02 CA$21.95

-16.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ฿104

$3.60 CA$4.93

-9.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.7

$1.09 CA$1.49

47.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ฿74.0

$3.34 CA$4.57

-30.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 ฿66.0

$3.16 CA$4.33

-34.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿51.5

$2.70 CA$3.69

-40.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 ฿46.26

$0.99 CA$1.35

45.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.01

$2.92 CA$3.99

-64.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.39

$1.08 CA$1.48

-55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.50 ฿144

$9.29 CA$12.73

-51.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.18 ฿615

$13.17 CA$18.05

45.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿58.4

$1.58 CA$2.17

15.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 ฿86.2

$2.74 CA$3.76

-1.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.38 ฿44.16

$2.34 CA$3.21

-41.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.76 ฿377

$61.6 CA$84.4

-80.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿99.6

$3.26 CA$4.47

-4.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.18

$1.49 CA$2.05

-32.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.74 ฿441

$25.99 CA$35.61

-47.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 ฿41.61

$1.12 CA$1.54

16.07%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.4K ฿877.0K

$25.1K CA$34.4K

8.84%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.0K ฿1.1M

$20.2K CA$27.7K

63.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$125 ฿4,004

$206 CA$282

-39.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.74 ฿440

$44.11 CA$60.4

-68.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.61 ฿597

$80.9 CA$111

-76.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.6 ฿1,941

$42.06 CA$57.6

43.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.15 ฿550

Cinema Ticket

$9.01 ฿289

$10.73 CA$14.70

-16.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$698 ฿22.4K

$737 CA$1,009

-5.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.1K ฿516.5K

$11.9K CA$16.3K

35.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 ฿1,898

$59.7 CA$81.7

-0.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.86 ฿1,118

$37.03 CA$50.7

-5.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 ฿3,662

$77.6 CA$106

47.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,751

$139 CA$191

-38.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿19.8K

$1,313 CA$1,799

-52.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.0K

$1,170 CA$1,603

-62.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,075 ฿66.5K

$2,006 CA$2,748

3.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿48.4K

$1,825 CA$2,500

-17.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,764 ฿120.7K

$4,406 CA$6,036

-14.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,694 ฿86.4K

$3,723 CA$5,100

-27.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$528 ฿16.9K

$1,842 CA$2,523

-71.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.19

-13.89%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026

Last update for Marathon: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $1,313 in Marathon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 249% higher in Marathon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Phuket versus $60 in Marathon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $359 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Marathon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Marathon is pricier by about 98%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Phuket and $3,700 in Marathon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $737 in Marathon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Marathon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Marathon at $2,466. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marathon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Marathon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.