Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Onesti Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Onesti

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $962 in Onesti, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,460 in Onesti, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,959 in Onesti, rent included.

Phuket costs about 31% more than Onesti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Onesti are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Onesti 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$6.83 RON 30.90
-33.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$37.03 RON 167
25.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$6.52 RON 29.48
29.91%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$1.87 RON 8.44
62.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$2.07 RON 9.36
-66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$1.66 RON 7.49
-77.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$2.05 RON 9.29
21.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$3.05 RON 13.78
20.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.16 RON 5.27
87.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$1.13 RON 5.12
68.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.97 RON 8.92
11.68%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$2.88 RON 13.04
-22.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$8.21 RON 37.16
143.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$7.01 RON 31.71
-47.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$11.16 RON 50.5
18.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$0.89 RON 4.04
262.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$1.51 RON 6.83
12.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$1.52 RON 6.86
57.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$1.95 RON 8.83
6.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$0.82 RON 3.69
93.90%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$1.05 RON 4.76
40.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$1.04 RON 4.72
-0.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.64 RON 2.91
-18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$5.50 RON 24.89
-22.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$5.61 RON 25.37
234.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$0.95 RON 4.28
85.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$1.46 RON 6.62
89.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$0.67 RON 3.04
102.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$19.77 RON 89.4
-42.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$1.17 RON 5.29
168.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$0.66 RON 2.97
57.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$7.09 RON 32.09
94.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$1.60 RON 7.24
-16.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$27.7K RON 125.2K
0.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$25.3K RON 114.5K
33.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$163 RON 736
-24.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$7.88 RON 35.66
71.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$9.38 RON 42.43
99.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$41.94 RON 190
47.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$19.17 RON 86.7
-10.02%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$6.81 RON 30.81
34.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$311 RON 1,407
125.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$9,660 RON 43.7K
64.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$37.17 RON 168
59.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$29.97 RON 136
17.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$75.1 RON 340
53.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$74.0 RON 335
13.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$393 RON 1,776
57.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$294 RON 1,329
47.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$579 RON 2,620
256.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$442 RON 2,002
241.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$1,920 RON 8,685
89.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$1,370 RON 6,197
91.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
$651 RON 2,945
-22.14%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Onesti: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $393 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 28% 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: $293 vs $200 – 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 31% 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 $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,443 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 $1,261 in Phuket and $962 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 $962, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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 $962 versus $1,261 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.

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