🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,649 in Mullingar.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $3,758 in Mullingar.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $4,868 in Mullingar.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 52% less than in Mullingar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Mullingar is 98% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Mullingar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$20.73€17.83
-77.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$95.0€81.7
-52.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$11.60€9.98
-27.33%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$4.71€4.05
-37.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$2.81€2.41
-75.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$2.15€1.85
-82.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$6.85€5.90
-64.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$6.77€5.82
-45.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mullingar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.60€1.38
39.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$2.04€1.75
-10.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$2.27€1.95
-4.41%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$4.22€3.63
-47.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$12.01€10.33
64.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$12.47€10.72
-70.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$14.97€12.88
-9.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$3.30€2.84
-0.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$3.15€2.71
-48.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$3.65€3.14
-33.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$5.58€4.80
-62.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$2.77€2.38
-44.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$2.19€1.89
-32.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.63€1.40
-39.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$2.15€1.85
-76.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$17.06€14.67
-74.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$12.70€10.92
52.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$3.70€3.18
-51.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$3.81€3.28
-28.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Mullingar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$2.47€2.12
-44.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$96.9€83.3
-88.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$4.75€4.08
-36.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$2.79€2.40
-64.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$34.83€29.96
-59.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$2.06€1.77
-33.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$43.1K€37.1K
-34.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$39.5K€34.0K
-16.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mullingar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$92.1€79.3
32.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$22.10€19.01
-38.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$40.72€35.03
-55.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mullingar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$46.47€39.98
29.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$11.55€9.94
48.40%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$13.90€11.96
-37.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mullingar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$1,357€1,167
-48.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$7,382€6,350
112.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mullingar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$103€88.3
-42.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$49.60€42.67
-29.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$99.8€85.9
14.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$114€98.3
-27.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mullingar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$1,751€1,506
-64.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$1,395€1,200
-68.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$2,129€1,831
-1.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$1,979€1,703
-23.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$4,062€3,494
-7.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$4,028€3,465
-35.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mullingar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$2,722€2,342
-81.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.6
15.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Mullingar: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $1,751 in Mullingar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mullingar pays 436% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $95.0 in Mullingar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $380 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 Mullingar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Mullingar?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 109% lower than in Mullingar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Mullingar?
On paper, Mullingar earns 436% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Mullingar?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $1,751 in Mullingar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Mullingar?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 751% less than in Mullingar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Mullingar?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $1,357 in Mullingar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Mullingar?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,649 in Mullingar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mullingar. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Mullingar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,265 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Mullingar?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Mullingar 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 109% less than in Mullingar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.