Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mytilene Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mytilene

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,478 in Mytilene.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $2,138 in Mytilene.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,799 in Mytilene.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 17% less than in Mytilene, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Mytilene is 8% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Mytilene
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$12.69 €11.06
-65.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,077
$45.60 €39.75
-29.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿298
$10.29 €8.97
-13.22%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.6
$3.90 €3.40
-25.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.38
$2.65 €2.31
-66.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.06
$0.59 €0.52
-18.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.5
$3.50 €3.05
-32.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$5.69 €4.96
-34.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mytilene
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.3
$1.51 €1.32
23.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.94
$1.59 €1.39
-7.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$3.03 €2.64
-48.84%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.1
$2.95 €2.57
-28.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿654
$13.62 €11.87
43.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$9.58 €8.35
-64.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿380
$13.45 €11.73
-15.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.6
$2.33 €2.03
27.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$2.16 €1.88
-22.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$1.41 €1.23
56.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.1
$2.00 €1.75
8.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.9
$1.17 €1.02
29.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.67
$1.17 €1.02
14.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.67
$1.19 €1.04
-5.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.86 €0.75
-36.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$5.63 €4.91
-24.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿637
$12.66 €11.04
50.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.4
$2.06 €1.79
-13.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$2.78 €2.42
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Mytilene
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.4
$1.36 €1.18
63.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿759
$48.46 €42.24
-53.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$2.68 €2.34
13.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.15
$0.95 €0.83
7.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$16.36 €14.26
-76.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.77
$2.16 €1.88
-31.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿887.3K
$28.0K €24.4K
-5.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿902.2K
$28.8K €25.1K
-6.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mytilene
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,420
$246 €214
-58.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿378
$23.87 €20.81
-52.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿581
$58.1 €50.7
-70.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mytilene
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,738
$52.9 €46.13
-1.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿370
$22.27 €19.41
-50.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿257
$9.94 €8.67
-22.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mytilene
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$446 €389
25.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.1K
$8,619 €7,513
33.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mytilene
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,104
$85.6 €74.6
-26.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿986
$41.52 €36.19
-28.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,272
$98.3 €85.7
-0.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,954
$132 €115
-33.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mytilene
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$354 €308
108.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$326 €284
47.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.3K
$637 €556
230.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.9K
$490 €427
150.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.7K
$3,112 €2,713
16.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.9K
$2,293 €1,999
13.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mytilene
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$1,107 €965
-55.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.15
8.16%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Mytilene: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $354 in Mytilene. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mytilene pays 124% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $46.00 in Mytilene for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $286 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 Mytilene: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Mytilene?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Mytilene. 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 in Mytilene?
On paper, salaries run 124% lower in Mytilene. 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 compared to Mytilene?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $354 in Mytilene. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Mytilene?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 113% less than in Mytilene. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Mytilene?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $446 in Mytilene. 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 in Mytilene?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,478 in Mytilene, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mytilene. 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 Mytilene?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,232 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 Mytilene?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Mytilene 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 20% less than in Mytilene. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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