Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and OnestiCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Onesti
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $983 in Onesti, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,459 in Onesti, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,935 in Onesti, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 25% more than Onesti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Onesti are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Onesti27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$7.09RON 30.89
-34.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$36.66RON 160
27.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$6.50RON 28.34
36.00%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$1.92RON 8.39
56.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$1.99RON 8.69
-62.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$1.60RON 6.97
-76.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$2.11RON 9.21
15.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$3.01RON 13.14
19.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.13RON 4.91
100.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$1.18RON 5.15
55.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$1.99RON 8.67
12.56%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$2.92RON 12.72
-20.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$7.87RON 34.31
149.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$6.82RON 29.75
-46.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$11.16RON 48.65
17.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$0.97RON 4.23
249.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$1.57RON 6.82
4.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.44RON 6.28
67.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$1.87RON 8.17
8.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$0.84RON 3.65
85.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$1.06RON 4.63
41.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$1.05RON 4.57
-2.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$0.65RON 2.82
-24.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$5.69RON 24.82
-21.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$5.78RON 25.19
226.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$0.95RON 4.14
87.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$1.47RON 6.40
87.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
$0.70RON 3.07
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
$19.91RON 86.8
-42.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
$1.17RON 5.10
166.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$0.60RON 2.61
66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$6.77RON 29.52
108.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$1.62RON 7.04
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$28.4KRON 123.7K
-4.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$25.4KRON 110.6K
29.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$161RON 703
-22.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$8.00RON 34.90
69.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$9.65RON 42.07
91.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
$41.75RON 182
47.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
$19.21RON 83.7
-12.34%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$6.78RON 29.55
35.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$305RON 1,332
128.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$9,768RON 42.6K
59.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$37.53RON 164
53.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$30.43RON 133
15.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$72.9RON 318
55.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$74.1RON 323
16.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
$387RON 1,688
59.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
$292RON 1,273
52.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
$597RON 2,602
243.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
$431RON 1,879
246.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
$1,781RON 7,764
112.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
$1,374RON 5,989
92.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
$687RON 2,993
-23.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
7.11
-25.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Onesti: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $387 in Onesti. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 31% higher in Onesti, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $37.00 in Onesti. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $199 – making Onesti the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Onesti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Onesti?
Phuket costs about 25% more than Onesti, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 vs Onesti?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,475 in Onesti. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Onesti?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Onesti, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Onesti?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $37.00 in Onesti. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Onesti?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $983 in Onesti. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Onesti?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Onesti, where all-in costs run around $983, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Onesti it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Onesti?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Onesti costs $983 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Onesti?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or Onesti?
If budget matters most, go with Onesti. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.