Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Montreal

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,064 in Montreal, rent and utilities included – about $9,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Montreal, Canada
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Montreal
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,064
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Montreal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Montreal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $2,064 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Montreal $2,064

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $3,156 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Montreal $3,156

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $4,247 in Montreal, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Montreal $4,247

Phuket is about 38% cheaper than Montreal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Montreal is 52% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Montreal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$18.98 CA$26.55
-76.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,092
$73.0 CA$102
-55.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$10.88 CA$15.22
-19.03%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.3
$3.81 CA$5.34
-25.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.37
$1.94 CA$2.71
-55.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.64
$1.58 CA$2.21
-68.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.2
$6.37 CA$8.91
-59.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$7.26 CA$10.16
-49.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Montreal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$2.23 CA$3.11
-25.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.25
$3.17 CA$4.44
-53.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.4
$3.31 CA$4.63
-54.68%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.4
$3.63 CA$5.08
-42.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿642
$13.16 CA$18.40
44.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$11.56 CA$16.17
-71.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$13.71 CA$19.18
-20.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.7
$3.29 CA$4.60
-10.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$1.46 CA$2.04
15.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.7
$3.37 CA$4.71
-33.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$3.15 CA$4.40
-33.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.9
$1.89 CA$2.64
-20.11%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.47
$1.79 CA$2.51
-22.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.91
$2.47 CA$3.46
-56.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.49
$1.58 CA$2.21
-67.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$11.28 CA$15.78
-62.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿633
$10.49 CA$14.68
79.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.4
$2.34 CA$3.27
-22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.7
$2.91 CA$4.07
-2.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Montreal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$2.61 CA$3.65
-44.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,909
$79.1 CA$111
-28.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$3.26 CA$4.56
-7.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.29
$1.44 CA$2.01
-29.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿124
$33.43 CA$46.76
-88.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.70
$1.33 CA$1.86
10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿902.4K
$28.6K CA$40.0K
-6.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿899.5K
$21.1K CA$29.5K
26.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Montreal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,247
$80.1 CA$112
20.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$34.30 CA$47.98
-67.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$42.85 CA$59.9
-60.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Montreal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,266
$31.14 CA$43.56
115.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿361
$19.41 CA$27.14
-44.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$11.23 CA$15.71
-33.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Montreal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.0K
$525 CA$734
-9.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.6K
$16.3K CA$22.8K
-31.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Montreal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,102
$58.0 CA$81.1
7.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿957
$38.11 CA$53.3
-25.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,178
$93.4 CA$131
0.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,892
$110 CA$154
-22.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Montreal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.1K
$1,285 CA$1,797
-44.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.5K
$977 CA$1,366
-49.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿64.9K
$2,271 CA$3,176
-15.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.2K
$1,665 CA$2,329
-14.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.7K
$5,139 CA$7,188
-18.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.6K
$3,834 CA$5,363
-20.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Montreal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$3,002 CA$4,199
-83.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.48
24.33%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Montreal: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Montreal
$977 99% $486
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Montreal
$351 31.9% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Montreal
$157 26.3% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Montreal
$135 10.6% $13
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Montreal
$291 139% $169
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Montreal
$54 34.8% $29
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Montreal
$100 41.7% $29

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $1,285 in Montreal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Montreal are about 6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $73 in Montreal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $351 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇦 Montreal
🕒 Local time
20:04 8:04 PM
09:04 9:04 AM
11 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
1,762,949
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.61 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.641 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Montreal 14,020 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Montreal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Montreal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Montreal?
Montreal costs about 62% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Montreal?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $3,096 in Montreal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Montreal?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $1,285 in Montreal.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Montreal?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Montreal, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Montreal?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $73 in Montreal. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Montreal?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Montreal at $2,064. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montreal it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Montreal?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,278 versus $2,064 in Montreal. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Montreal?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Phuket or to Montreal?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montreal makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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