Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ourem Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ourem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,638 in Ourem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $2,389 in Ourem, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $3,140 in Ourem, rent included.

Phuket is about 23% cheaper than Ourem, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Ourem is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ourem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$13.27 €11.44
-64.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$55.0 €47.38
-41.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$9.27 €7.99
-6.36%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$1.32 €1.14
119.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$1.79 €1.54
-53.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$1.21 €1.05
-59.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$2.87 €2.47
-13.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$2.87 €2.47
29.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ourem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$1.11 €0.95
70.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$2.50 €2.16
-43.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$1.37 €1.18
18.25%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$3.77 €3.25
-40.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$9.38 €8.09
111.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$8.11 €6.99
-57.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$11.45 €9.87
-0.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$1.93 €1.66
50.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$1.26 €1.09
36.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$1.18 €1.01
92.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$1.76 €1.51
21.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$2.12 €1.83
-30.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$1.83 €1.58
-22.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$1.67 €1.44
-34.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$0.70 €0.60
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$6.20 €5.35
-30.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$3.51 €3.02
429.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$1.30 €1.12
38.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$1.49 €1.28
99.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ourem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$2.26 €1.95
-0.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
$41.40 €35.69
-43.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$4.19 €3.61
-26.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$0.78 €0.67
38.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$17.39 €14.99
-77.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$2.17 €1.87
-34.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$35.1K €30.3K
-20.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$40.1K €34.5K
-32.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ourem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$124 €107
-15.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$22.55 €19.44
-49.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$39.90 €34.39
-56.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ourem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$43.24 €37.27
25.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$9.54 €8.22
-18.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ourem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$640 €552
-9.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$6,434 €5,547
79.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ourem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$80.0 €68.9
-20.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$46.18 €39.81
-36.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$87.5 €75.4
9.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$106 €91.6
-15.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ourem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$998 €860
-26.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$801 €691
-37.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$1,572 €1,355
35.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$1,221 €1,053
2.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
$3,201 €2,759
10.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$2,405 €2,073
9.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ourem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$1,370 €1,181
-62.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.54
57.34%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ourem: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $998 in Ourem. 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 170% higher in Ourem, 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 Ourem. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Phuket vs $232 in Ourem – so Ourem 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 Ourem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Ourem?
Ourem costs about 29% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by 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 Ourem?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $2,457 in Ourem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Ourem?
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 expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Ourem?
Public transport costs about 76% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Ourem?
Kindergarten costs $576 per month in Phuket and $640 in Ourem. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Ourem?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Ourem at $1,638. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ourem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Ourem?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,265 versus $1,638 in Ourem. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Ourem?
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 Ourem?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ourem makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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