๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,911 in Montรฉvrain.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $2,913 in Montรฉvrain.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $3,916 in Montรฉvrain.
๐Living in Phuket costs roughly 34% less than in Montรฉvrain, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Montรฉvrain is 42% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56เธฟ149
$14.01โฌ12.07
-67.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63เธฟ1,519
$51.8โฌ44.62
-9.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47เธฟ276
$11.62โฌ10.01
-27.11%
Cappuccino
$3.03เธฟ98.6
$3.40โฌ2.93
-10.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69เธฟ22.45
$2.26โฌ1.95
-69.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37เธฟ11.92
$2.36โฌ2.04
-84.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49เธฟ81.0
$5.84โฌ5.03
-57.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66เธฟ119
$5.88โฌ5.07
-37.76%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18เธฟ71.0
$1.55โฌ1.33
40.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90เธฟ62.0
$2.09โฌ1.80
-9.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20เธฟ71.6
$2.99โฌ2.58
-26.42%
Eggs
$2.22เธฟ72.4
$4.92โฌ4.24
-54.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99เธฟ651
$25.93โฌ22.34
-22.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66เธฟ119
$14.15โฌ12.19
-74.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25เธฟ432
$19.98โฌ17.21
-33.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23เธฟ105
$3.53โฌ3.04
-8.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70เธฟ55.3
$2.45โฌ2.11
-30.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39เธฟ78.0
$3.50โฌ3.01
-31.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08เธฟ67.7
$3.93โฌ3.39
-47.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59เธฟ51.8
$2.69โฌ2.32
-40.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48เธฟ48.31
$3.09โฌ2.66
-52.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03เธฟ33.54
$1.89โฌ1.63
-45.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52เธฟ16.83
$0.92โฌ0.80
-43.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25เธฟ138
$15.02โฌ12.94
-71.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79เธฟ612
$9.42โฌ8.12
99.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76เธฟ57.2
$2.75โฌ2.37
-36.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76เธฟ89.8
$4.05โฌ3.49
-31.85%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
Montรฉvrain
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36เธฟ44.32
$1.96โฌ1.69
-30.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36เธฟ370
$48.42โฌ41.72
-76.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14เธฟ102
$4.60โฌ3.97
-31.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04เธฟ33.74
$2.10โฌ1.81
-50.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77เธฟ448
$54.5โฌ46.91
-74.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34เธฟ43.79
$2.08โฌ1.79
-35.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7Kเธฟ901.4K
$36.2Kโฌ31.2K
-23.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9Kเธฟ1.1M
$36.1Kโฌ31.1K
-6.28%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124เธฟ4,025
$253โฌ218
-51.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52เธฟ440
$16.72โฌ14.40
-19.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69เธฟ609
$36.70โฌ31.62
-49.07%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8เธฟ2,013
$37.68โฌ32.46
64.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25เธฟ562
$18.51โฌ15.95
-6.81%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14เธฟ298
$12.52โฌ10.79
-27.00%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703เธฟ22.9K
$891โฌ767
-21.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kเธฟ517.0K
$8,605โฌ7,414
84.46%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5เธฟ1,937
$113โฌ96.9
-47.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07เธฟ1,142
$48.27โฌ41.59
-27.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115เธฟ3,754
$121โฌ105
-5.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1เธฟ2,737
$156โฌ135
-46.23%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Montรฉvrain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619เธฟ20.1K
$773โฌ666
-19.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433เธฟ14.1K
$629โฌ542
-31.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062เธฟ67.2K
$1,394โฌ1,201
47.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511เธฟ49.2K
$1,066โฌ918
41.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646เธฟ118.7K
$3,789โฌ3,264
-3.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626เธฟ85.5K
$3,526โฌ3,038
-25.55%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Montรฉvrain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507เธฟ16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.55
50.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Montรฉvrain: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $773 in Montรฉvrain. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $52.0 in Montรฉvrain for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $416 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 Montรฉvrain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montรฉvrain cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $2,866 in Montรฉvrain 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 Montรฉvrain?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $773 in Montรฉvrain. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Montรฉvrain?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $1,911 in Montรฉvrain โ a 51% 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 326% less than in Montรฉvrain. 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 Montรฉvrain?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,911 in Montรฉvrain, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Montรฉvrain. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Montรฉvrain more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Montรฉvrain, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Montรฉvrain?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Montรฉvrain 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 51% less than in Montรฉvrain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.