Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mestre Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mestre

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $1,955 in Mestre, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $3,009 in Mestre, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $4,063 in Mestre, rent included.

Phuket is about 35% cheaper than Mestre, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Mestre is 45% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Mestre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$23.31 €20.08
-80.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$92.3 €79.5
-49.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$12.36 €10.65
-31.47%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$2.11 €1.82
43.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$3.11 €2.68
-77.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$1.75 €1.50
-78.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$5.76 €4.96
-56.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$4.53 €3.90
-19.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mestre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.64 €1.41
32.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$2.96 €2.55
-35.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$2.91 €2.51
-24.40%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$4.26 €3.67
-47.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$16.20 €13.96
23.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$12.31 €10.60
-70.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$14.60 €12.58
-9.25%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$2.93 €2.53
10.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$2.01 €1.73
-15.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$2.62 €2.26
-8.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$2.61 €2.25
-20.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$1.85 €1.59
-14.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$1.70 €1.47
-12.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$1.80 €1.55
-42.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.48 €0.42
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$6.60 €5.68
-35.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$7.12 €6.14
163.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$1.47 €1.26
19.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$2.04 €1.76
35.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Mestre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$1.77 €1.52
-23.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$47.01 €40.51
-75.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$7.10 €6.12
-55.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$1.47 €1.26
-29.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$46.76 €40.29
-70.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$2.02 €1.74
-33.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$30.6K €26.3K
-9.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$28.3K €24.4K
19.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mestre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$225 €194
-45.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$13.54 €11.66
-0.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$26.65 €22.96
-29.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mestre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$58.9 €50.8
4.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$20.71 €17.84
-16.71%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$11.35 €9.78
-19.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mestre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$582 €501
20.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$5,853 €5,043
171.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mestre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$81.9 €70.6
-27.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$46.07 €39.69
-23.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$97.9 €84.3
17.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$145 €125
-41.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mestre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$917 €790
-32.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$750 €646
-42.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$1,589 €1,369
29.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$1,289 €1,110
17.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$1,956 €1,686
86.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$1,598 €1,377
64.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mestre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
$2,010 €1,732
-74.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
4.9
8.78%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mestre: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $917 in Mestre. 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 296% higher in Mestre, 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $92.0 in Mestre. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $326 – 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 Mestre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Mestre compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Phuket, $1,955 in Mestre – roughly 55% apart. Mestre costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Mestre?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $2,932 in Mestre. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Mestre?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Mestre?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $1,955 in Mestre. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Mestre?
Public transport costs about 314% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,261, than in Mestre at $1,955. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mestre it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Mestre?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,261 in Phuket to $1,955 in Mestre. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Mestre safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Mestre?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mestre makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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