🙂A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $1,746 in Mariehamn, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $2,644 in Mariehamn, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $3,543 in Mariehamn, rent included.
🙂Phuket is about 28% cheaper than Mariehamn, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Mariehamn is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Mariehamn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$14.99€13.13
-69.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$68.3€59.8
-32.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$11.78€10.32
-24.96%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$3.92€3.43
-21.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$2.79€2.44
-73.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$1.97€1.73
-79.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$7.91€6.93
-69.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$6.41€5.62
-41.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mariehamn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.29€1.13
75.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$3.06€2.68
-40.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$3.39€2.97
-33.63%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$2.99€2.62
-24.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$12.62€11.06
54.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$10.31€9.03
-64.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$19.58€17.15
-33.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.82€2.47
14.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$2.57€2.25
-36.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$2.49€2.18
-4.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$4.68€4.10
-56.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.60€1.40
-4.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.43€1.25
4.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$2.82€2.47
-65.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$2.06€1.80
-74.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$10.11€8.86
-56.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$13.88€12.16
31.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$3.73€3.27
-50.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$3.44€3.01
-22.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Mariehamn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$2.83€2.48
-50.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$58.4€51.1
-79.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$8.21€7.19
-62.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$1.06€0.93
-1.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$22.89€20.04
-38.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$2.29€2.01
-42.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$27.2K€23.8K
2.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$25.6K€22.4K
29.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mariehamn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$209€183
-41.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$32.73€28.66
-58.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$42.33€37.07
-55.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mariehamn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$43.79€38.35
38.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$22.91€20.06
-25.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$16.33€14.30
-44.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mariehamn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$164€143
331.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mariehamn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$82.2€72.0
-28.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$32.75€28.68
7.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$94.6€82.8
22.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$94.2€82.5
-11.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mariehamn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$658€577
-5.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$526€461
-15.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$1,146€1,004
77.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$846€741
76.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$2,661€2,331
30.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$1,486€1,301
73.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mariehamn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$2,761€2,418
-81.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.9
36.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Mariehamn: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $658 in Mariehamn. 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 452% higher in Mariehamn, 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $68.0 in Mariehamn. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $377 – 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 Mariehamn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Mariehamn?
Mariehamn costs about 40% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by 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 Mariehamn?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $2,618 in Mariehamn. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Mariehamn?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Mariehamn?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,250 in Phuket and $1,746 in Mariehamn. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Mariehamn?
Public transport costs about 399% 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 Mariehamn?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Mariehamn at $1,746. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mariehamn it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Mariehamn?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,250 versus $1,746 in Mariehamn. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Mariehamn?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or to Mariehamn?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mariehamn makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.