Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Masallatah Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Masallatah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $326 in Masallatah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $549 in Masallatah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $771 in Masallatah, rent included.

Phuket costs about 283% more than Masallatah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Masallatah are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Masallatah 76% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Masallatah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$4.67 LYD 29.78
-2.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$18.63 LYD 119
147.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$3.65 LYD 23.23
142.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.58 LYD 3.67
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.71 LYD 4.55
-
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$0.49 LYD 3.10
524.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$0.45 LYD 2.87
62.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$0.11 LYD 0.67
263.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Masallatah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.03 LYD 6.59
119.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$0.23 LYD 1.47
686.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.22 LYD 7.79
84.43%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$1.43 LYD 9.09
57.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$4.91 LYD 31.27
297.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$3.36 LYD 21.39
8.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$10.41 LYD 66.3
25.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$2.21 LYD 14.05
46.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.33 LYD 8.49
21.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$0.82 LYD 5.25
190.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$0.56 LYD 3.59
262.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$0.70 LYD 4.45
118.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$0.58 LYD 3.67
158.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$0.39 LYD 2.48
151.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$0.22 LYD 1.40
136.36%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.24 LYD 7.89
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.72 LYD 4.60
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.69 LYD 4.38
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$1.85 LYD 11.78
140.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Masallatah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$0.90 LYD 5.74
245.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$0.90 LYD 5.73
15.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
$4.63 LYD 29.52
204.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$0.03 LYD 0.17
4266.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$13.9K LYD 88.8K
99.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$16.6K LYD 105.4K
100.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Masallatah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,118
$32.25 LYD 205
279.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$8.26 LYD 52.6
64.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$22.90 LYD 146
-18.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Masallatah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$4.51 LYD 28.76
101.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Masallatah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$53.3 LYD 339
1225.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
$932 LYD 5,939
1594.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Masallatah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
$21.78 LYD 139
168.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$36.00 LYD 229
-1.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$49.68 LYD 316
132.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$56.4 LYD 359
48.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Masallatah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Masallatah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
17.5
-69.54%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Masallatah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $19.00 in Masallatah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $119 – making Masallatah 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 Masallatah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Masallatah cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 283%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $490 in Masallatah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Masallatah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,250 in Phuket and $326 in Masallatah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $53.3 in Masallatah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Masallatah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Masallatah, where all-in costs run around $326, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Masallatah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Masallatah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Masallatah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Masallatah?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Masallatah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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