Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and OstiaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ostia
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,247 per month in Phuket vs $1,690 in Ostia, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,276 per month in Phuket vs $2,587 in Ostia, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,306 per month in Phuket vs $3,485 in Ostia, rent included.
🙂Phuket is about 26% cheaper than Ostia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Phuket sits 7% below the global median, while Ostia is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ostia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59฿147
$17.20€14.64
-73.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83฿1,501
$76.7€65.3
-38.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70฿279
$11.56€9.83
-24.74%
Cappuccino
$2.92฿93.7
$2.21€1.88
32.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿21.92
$2.26€1.93
-69.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿12.70
$1.08€0.92
-62.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51฿80.4
$4.51€3.84
-44.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿122
$4.51€3.84
-15.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ostia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16฿69.3
$1.71€1.45
26.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88฿60.3
$2.19€1.86
-14.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16฿69.2
$2.91€2.48
-25.77%
Eggs
$2.22฿71.2
$4.60€3.91
-51.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57฿627
$14.99€12.76
30.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80฿122
$10.34€8.80
-63.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41฿430
$16.29€13.86
-17.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26฿104
$2.46€2.09
32.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿51.7
$2.19€1.86
-26.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31฿74.0
$1.96€1.67
17.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06฿66.0
$2.68€2.28
-23.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61฿51.5
$1.80€1.53
-10.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44฿46.26
$1.87€1.59
-22.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.01
$1.26€1.07
-18.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.39
$0.52€0.44
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50฿144
$6.97€5.93
-35.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18฿615
$5.19€4.42
269.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿58.4
$1.86€1.58
-2.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69฿86.2
$2.66€2.27
1.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ostia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38฿44.16
$1.72€1.46
-19.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76฿377
$43.87€37.34
-73.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿99.6
$5.36€4.56
-41.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.18
$1.59€1.36
-37.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74฿441
$35.41€30.13
-61.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30฿41.61
$1.94€1.65
-32.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K฿877.0K
$29.0K€24.7K
-5.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K฿1.1M
$29.8K€25.4K
10.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ostia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,004
$224€191
-44.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74฿440
$11.00€9.36
24.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61฿597
$33.04€28.12
-43.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ostia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6฿1,941
$63.8€54.3
-5.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15฿550
$23.12€19.67
-25.82%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01฿289
$11.48€9.77
-21.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ostia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.4K
$399€339
75.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1K฿516.5K
$9,092€7,737
77.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ostia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2฿1,898
$74.6€63.4
-20.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86฿1,118
$34.37€29.25
1.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114฿3,662
$84.8€72.2
34.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8฿2,751
$120€102
-28.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ostia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿19.8K
$748€636
-17.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.0K
$581€495
-24.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075฿66.5K
$1,235€1,051
68.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿48.4K
$929€790
62.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764฿120.7K
$2,840€2,417
32.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694฿86.4K
$2,169€1,846
24.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ostia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528฿16.9K
$2,157€1,835
-75.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.95
34.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Ostia: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $748 in Ostia. 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 308% higher in Ostia, 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 $47 in Phuket versus $77 in Ostia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $307 – making Phuket 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 Ostia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ostia cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Ostia is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,870 per month in Phuket and $2,535 in Ostia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $399 in Ostia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Ostia?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Ostia, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Ostia?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Ostia at $1,690. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ostia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Ostia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Ostia?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ostia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.