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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,115 in Onesti, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,690 in Onesti, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $2,265 in Onesti, rent included.

Phuket costs about 10% more than Onesti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Onesti are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Onesti 19% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$11.27 RON 51.6
-60.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,074
$43.42 RON 199
-25.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$7.53 RON 34.51
18.59%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.4
$2.96 RON 13.56
-2.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.30
$2.22 RON 10.18
-60.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.01
$1.83 RON 8.38
-73.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.3
$3.37 RON 15.45
-30.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$4.05 RON 18.56
-8.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.1
$1.10 RON 5.04
70.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.81
$1.37 RON 6.28
7.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.7
$2.05 RON 9.41
-24.39%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.0
$3.25 RON 14.91
-35.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿652
$7.71 RON 35.31
154.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$6.49 RON 29.74
-47.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿379
$10.17 RON 46.59
11.90%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.3
$1.09 RON 4.98
173.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.56 RON 7.16
7.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.5
$1.81 RON 8.30
22.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.0
$2.21 RON 10.12
-2.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.8
$0.94 RON 4.32
61.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.55
$0.97 RON 4.45
38.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.57
$1.23 RON 5.64
-8.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.19
$0.65 RON 2.96
-15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$6.75 RON 30.92
-36.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿635
$5.44 RON 24.92
250.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.2
$1.37 RON 6.27
29.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.6
$2.15 RON 9.86
29.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.2
$0.79 RON 3.60
182.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿757
$23.04 RON 106
-1.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$0.86 RON 3.95
252.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.06
$0.92 RON 4.23
10.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$8.64 RON 39.56
-54.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.63
$1.56 RON 7.15
-4.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿884.9K
$29.7K RON 136.1K
-10.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿899.8K
$29.3K RON 134.1K
-7.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,411
$190 RON 868
-45.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿377
$7.78 RON 35.64
45.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿579
$9.08 RON 41.59
91.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,734
$40.46 RON 185
28.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿369
$21.43 RON 98.2
-48.34%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿256
$9.12 RON 41.80
-15.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$411 RON 1,882
36.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.0K
$7,467 RON 34.2K
54.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,098
$39.66 RON 182
58.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿983
$40.29 RON 185
-26.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,263
$96.8 RON 444
1.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,946
$94.5 RON 433
-6.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$403 RON 1,845
83.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$299 RON 1,368
61.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.1K
$624 RON 2,857
237.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.8K
$477 RON 2,185
157.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.4K
$1,914 RON 8,767
88.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.7K
$1,400 RON 6,413
85.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Onesti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
$663 RON 3,039
-25.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
7.18
-22.42%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Onesti: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $403 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 34% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $43.00 in Onesti. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $205 in Onesti – so Onesti wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 10% 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 and in Onesti?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,672 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 and in Onesti?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $43.00 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 $1,115 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 in Onesti?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Onesti, where all-in costs run around $1,115, 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 $1,115 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 to 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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