๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,822 in Montecatini Terme.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $2,657 in Montecatini Terme.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,306 in Phuket versus $3,493 in Montecatini Terme.
๐Living in Phuket costs roughly 32% less than in Montecatini Terme, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 7% below, Montecatini Terme is 35% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59เธฟ147
$20.99โฌ17.86
-78.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83เธฟ1,501
$37.99โฌ32.33
23.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70เธฟ279
$11.79โฌ10.04
-26.21%
Cappuccino
$2.92เธฟ93.7
$1.66โฌ1.41
75.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68เธฟ21.92
$2.28โฌ1.94
-70.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40เธฟ12.70
$1.17โฌ1.00
-65.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51เธฟ80.4
$5.10โฌ4.34
-50.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80เธฟ122
$5.70โฌ4.85
-33.33%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16เธฟ69.3
$1.40โฌ1.19
54.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88เธฟ60.3
$2.75โฌ2.34
-31.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16เธฟ69.2
$2.55โฌ2.17
-15.29%
Eggs
$2.22เธฟ71.2
$4.61โฌ3.92
-51.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57เธฟ627
$10.48โฌ8.92
86.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80เธฟ122
$15.24โฌ12.97
-75.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41เธฟ430
$22.28โฌ18.96
-39.81%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26เธฟ104
$2.71โฌ2.31
20.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61เธฟ51.7
$2.76โฌ2.35
-41.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31เธฟ74.0
$3.64โฌ3.10
-36.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06เธฟ66.0
$4.02โฌ3.42
-48.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61เธฟ51.5
$2.81โฌ2.39
-42.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44เธฟ46.26
$1.77โฌ1.50
-18.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03เธฟ33.01
$1.56โฌ1.33
-33.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48เธฟ15.39
$0.44โฌ0.38
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50เธฟ144
$6.50โฌ5.53
-30.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18เธฟ615
$9.53โฌ8.11
101.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82เธฟ58.4
$1.07โฌ0.91
70.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69เธฟ86.2
$1.52โฌ1.29
76.97%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
Montecatini Terme
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38เธฟ44.16
$1.72โฌ1.47
-19.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76เธฟ377
$43.01โฌ36.60
-72.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11เธฟ99.6
$6.89โฌ5.86
-54.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00เธฟ32.18
$1.12โฌ0.95
-10.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74เธฟ441
$32.72โฌ27.85
-58.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30เธฟ41.61
$2.02โฌ1.72
-35.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kเธฟ877.0K
$27.9Kโฌ23.7K
-1.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kเธฟ1.1M
$37.5Kโฌ31.9K
-12.03%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125เธฟ4,004
$265โฌ226
-52.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74เธฟ440
$11.46โฌ9.75
19.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61เธฟ597
$30.72โฌ26.15
-39.42%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6เธฟ1,941
$60.1โฌ51.1
0.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15เธฟ550
$23.18โฌ19.72
-26.01%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01เธฟ289
$10.09โฌ8.59
-10.70%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698เธฟ22.4K
$714โฌ608
-2.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kเธฟ516.5K
$11.3Kโฌ9,623
42.49%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2เธฟ1,898
$98.4โฌ83.8
-39.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86เธฟ1,118
$35.21โฌ29.96
-0.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114เธฟ3,662
$103โฌ87.3
11.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8เธฟ2,751
$131โฌ111
-34.38%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Montecatini Terme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619เธฟ19.8K
$750โฌ638
-17.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437เธฟ14.0K
$585โฌ498
-25.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075เธฟ66.5K
$1,234โฌ1,050
68.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509เธฟ48.4K
$935โฌ795
61.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764เธฟ120.7K
$2,687โฌ2,287
40.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694เธฟ86.4K
$2,331โฌ1,983
15.57%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Montecatini Terme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528เธฟ16.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4
33.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Montecatini Terme: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $750 in Montecatini Terme. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $47 in Phuket vs $38 in Montecatini Terme. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $360, with Phuket 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 Montecatini Terme: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montecatini Terme cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,870 in Phuket and $2,733 in Montecatini Terme to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Montecatini Terme?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $750 in Montecatini Terme. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Montecatini Terme?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Montecatini Terme. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Montecatini Terme?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket โ a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $38.00 in Montecatini Terme. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Montecatini Terme?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,822 in Montecatini Terme, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Montecatini Terme. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Montecatini Terme more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Montecatini Terme, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Montecatini Terme?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Montecatini Terme 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 โ expenses run 46% less than in Montecatini Terme. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.