Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and NaousaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Naousa
Monthly Cost of Living
ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,462 in Naousa.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,201 in Naousa.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,941 in Naousa.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 16% less than in Naousa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Naousa is 9% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Naousa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$13.67âŽ11.71
-66.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$58.7âŽ50.2
-20.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$9.53âŽ8.15
-7.24%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$4.20âŽ3.59
-28.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.19âŽ1.88
-66.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.60âŽ0.51
-38.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$5.86âŽ5.02
-58.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$5.77âŽ4.93
-37.44%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Naousa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.71âŽ1.46
32.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.48âŽ1.26
24.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.47âŽ2.11
-9.31%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$4.22âŽ3.61
-45.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$13.41âŽ11.48
46.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$9.50âŽ8.13
-61.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$13.78âŽ11.80
-4.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.23âŽ1.91
52.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.04âŽ1.75
-19.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.43âŽ1.22
68.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.98âŽ1.69
2.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.26âŽ1.08
23.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.25âŽ1.07
20.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.98âŽ0.84
4.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.80âŽ0.69
-38.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$5.37âŽ4.60
-17.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.70âŽ6.59
145.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$2.00âŽ1.71
-11.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.82âŽ2.42
-2.48%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Naousa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.58âŽ1.35
-11.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$46.47âŽ39.78
-75.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$4.60âŽ3.93
-32.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$13.82âŽ11.83
1.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$2.21âŽ1.89
-38.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$31.8KâŽ27.2K
-14.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$26.3KâŽ22.5K
25.20%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Naousa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$217âŽ185
-42.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$23.17âŽ19.83
-41.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$32.13âŽ27.50
-42.36%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Naousa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$47.26âŽ40.46
30.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$26.30âŽ22.51
-35.97%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$9.72âŽ8.32
-5.45%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Naousa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$417âŽ357
67.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$5,974âŽ5,113
161.02%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Naousa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$87.8âŽ75.2
-34.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$39.17âŽ33.53
-10.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$88.8âŽ76.0
27.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$109âŽ93.3
-20.72%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Naousa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$505âŽ432
22.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$390âŽ333
14.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$774âŽ663
164.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$621âŽ531
140.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,799âŽ2,396
35.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,673âŽ2,288
-0.91%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Naousa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$982âŽ841
-46.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.43
20.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Naousa: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $505 in Naousa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Naousa pays 88% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $59.0 in Naousa. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $278, with Naousa 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 Naousa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Naousa?
Phuket and Naousa differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $1,462 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Naousa earns 88% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Naousa?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $505 in Naousa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Naousa?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $417 in Naousa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Naousa pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,462 in Naousa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Naousa. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Naousa?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Naousa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Naousa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Naousa?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 19% less than in Naousa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.