Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Orleans

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $1,583 in Orleans, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Orleans
🇫🇷 France
$1,583
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Orleans

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Orleans actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,207 per month in Phuket vs $1,583 in Orleans, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Orleans $1,583

A couple spends around $2,037 per month in Phuket vs $2,398 in Orleans, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Orleans $2,398

A family of three spends $2,867 per month in Phuket vs $3,214 in Orleans, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Orleans $3,214

Phuket is about 24% cheaper than Orleans, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 11% below the global median, while Orleans is 17% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Orleans
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$16.98 €15.14
-73.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,088
$54.8 €48.87
-40.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$11.18 €9.97
-23.52%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.2
$2.86 €2.55
-4.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.32
$2.97 €2.65
-68.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.43
$1.41 €1.26
-65.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.8
$5.48 €4.89
-52.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$6.57 €5.86
-41.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Orleans
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$1.13 €1.01
53.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.92
$1.12 €1.00
27.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$2.23 €1.99
-31.39%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.8
$3.55 €3.16
-38.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿641
$12.49 €11.13
53.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$9.24 €8.24
-64.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿373
$19.64 €17.51
-43.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.7
$2.27 €2.03
29.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$2.29 €2.04
-26.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿77.0
$2.47 €2.20
-6.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.4
$2.26 €2.02
-5.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.2
$1.10 €0.98
39.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.64
$1.10 €0.98
23.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.52
$1.09 €0.97
2.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.28
$1.11 €0.99
-50.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿143
$14.63 €13.05
-70.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿609
$6.31 €5.63
188.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.3
$2.28 €2.04
-23.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.5
$3.27 €2.91
-14.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Orleans
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.2
$1.99 €1.77
11.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿739
$53.8 €47.93
-58.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.5
$9.00 €8.02
-67.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.87
$1.20 €1.07
-15.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$22.07 €19.67
-82.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.95
$1.97 €1.75
-24.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿893.5K
$27.7K €24.7K
-3.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿894.5K
$36.4K €32.4K
-26.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Orleans
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,328
$182 €162
-45.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿378
$23.24 €20.72
-51.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿581
$28.23 €25.17
-38.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Orleans
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,751
$31.37 €27.97
66.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿363
$7.98 €7.12
35.96%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$13.79 €12.30
-45.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Orleans
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$886 €790
-36.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.7K
$3,491 €3,113
229.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Orleans
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,106
$79.5 €70.9
-20.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿957
$40.86 €36.43
-30.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,220
$93.2 €83.1
3.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,949
$103 €92.2
-14.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Orleans
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$764 €681
-4.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$521 €464
-11.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.2K
$1,057 €942
98.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.9K
$878 €783
39.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.8K
$2,701 €2,408
28.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.4K
$2,062 €1,839
20.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Orleans
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$3,244 €2,893
-84.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.81
46.19%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Orleans: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Orleans
$521 13.2% $61
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Orleans
$288 7.7% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Orleans
$234 82.6% $106
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Orleans
$143 15% $19
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Orleans
$262 116% $140
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Orleans
$59 12.6% $8.5
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Orleans
$77 97.3% $38

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $729 in Phuket versus $764 in Orleans. 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 558% higher in Orleans, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $55.0 in Orleans. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $288 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇫🇷 Orleans
🕒 Local time
12:43 12:43 PM
07:43 7:43 AM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
116,617
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 33.49 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.54 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Orleans 9,840 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Orleans

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Orleans: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Orleans?
Orleans costs about 31% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 Orleans?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,811 per month in Phuket and $2,374 in Orleans. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Orleans?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, 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 Orleans?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $55.0 in Orleans. 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 Orleans?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,207 in Phuket and $1,583 in Orleans. That's a gap of about 31%.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Orleans?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,207, than in Orleans at $1,583. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Orleans it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Orleans?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,207 versus $1,583 in Orleans. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Orleans?
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 Orleans?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Orleans makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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