Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Martin Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Martin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,468 in Martin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $2,088 in Martin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,707 in Martin.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 14% less than in Martin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Martin is 9% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Martin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿150
$9.52 €8.25
-52.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,535
$46.93 €40.67
-0.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿279
$9.20 €7.98
-7.93%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿99.7
$2.86 €2.48
5.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.69
$1.79 €1.55
-61.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.04
$1.34 €1.16
-72.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.9
$2.12 €1.84
17.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿120
$2.35 €2.04
55.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Martin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.8
$1.08 €0.94
101.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.6
$1.38 €1.20
37.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿72.4
$2.08 €1.81
5.77%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿73.2
$3.57 €3.09
-37.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿658
$15.88 €13.76
25.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿121
$7.97 €6.91
-54.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿436
$13.20 €11.44
0.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿106
$1.23 €1.07
162.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.9
$1.76 €1.53
-3.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.8
$2.34 €2.03
2.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.4
$2.19 €1.90
-5.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿52.4
$1.37 €1.19
16.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.83
$1.76 €1.52
-15.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.90
$1.65 €1.43
-37.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.01
$0.81 €0.70
-35.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿140
$5.92 €5.13
-28.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿618
$4.78 €4.15
293.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.8
$1.07 €0.93
64.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿90.8
$2.35 €2.03
17.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Martin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.79
$1.47 €1.28
-7.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿374
$28.91 €25.06
-60.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿103
$1.43 €1.24
119.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿34.10
$1.28 €1.11
-18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿453
$23.02 €19.95
-40.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.26
$1.76 €1.52
-23.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿911.1K
$23.4K €20.2K
18.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$24.9K €21.6K
36.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Martin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,069
$305 €265
-59.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿445
$27.57 €23.89
-50.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿615
$12.63 €10.94
47.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Martin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,035
$38.18 €33.09
61.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿568
$17.15 €14.87
0.58%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿301
$9.54 €8.27
-4.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Martin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿23.1K
$348 €301
102.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿522.5K
$7,356 €6,375
115.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Martin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,958
$68.9 €59.7
-13.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,154
$14.11 €12.23
148.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,795
$75.1 €65.1
53.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,767
$108 €94.0
-22.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Martin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.4K
$527 €456
17.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.2K
$482 €418
-10.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.9K
$782 €678
163.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.7K
$692 €600
118.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿120.0K
$2,354 €2,041
54.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿86.4K
$1,761 €1,526
49.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Martin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.7K
$1,540 €1,335
-67.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
4.39
21.41%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Martin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $527 in Martin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Martin pays 204% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $47.00 in Martin. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $255, with Martin cheaper for home cooking.

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 Martin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Martin cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Martin?
On paper, Martin earns 204% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Martin?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $527 in Martin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Martin?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $1,468 in Martin – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 154% less than in Martin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Martin?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,468 in Martin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Martin. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Martin more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Martin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Martin?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Martin 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Martin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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