🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $5,489 in Paget Parish.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $10.1K in Paget Parish.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $14.8K in Paget Parish.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 77% less than in Paget Parish, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Paget Parish is 298% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Paget Parish
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿153
$49.41BMD 49.41
-90.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,059
$147BMD 147
-78.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿285
$16.58BMD 16.58
-47.65%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.3
$6.18BMD 6.18
-53.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.75
$3.07BMD 3.07
-72.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$3.18BMD 3.18
-84.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿81.6
$7.70BMD 7.70
-67.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
$9.05BMD 9.05
-58.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Paget Parish
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.0
$4.57BMD 4.57
-58.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.31
$8.59BMD 8.59
-83.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.3
$5.58BMD 5.58
-70.97%
Eggs
$2.24฿73.7
$5.82BMD 5.82
-61.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿652
$18.94BMD 18.94
4.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿114
$17.47BMD 17.47
-80.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿374
$27.46BMD 27.46
-58.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.3
$12.98BMD 12.98
-77.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.7
$6.52BMD 6.52
-73.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿74.7
$13.19BMD 13.19
-82.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.1
$10.85BMD 10.85
-80.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.49
$6.66BMD 6.66
-77.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.69
$3.12BMD 3.12
-54.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.08
$6.67BMD 6.67
-83.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.66
$3.70BMD 3.70
-83.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$17.74BMD 17.74
-75.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿612
$24.76BMD 24.76
-24.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.2
$5.30BMD 5.30
-66.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿97.5
$4.46BMD 4.46
-33.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Paget Parish
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿73.8
$4.37BMD 4.37
-48.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿772
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$6.43BMD 6.43
-51.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.39
$2.97BMD 2.97
-63.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿127
$70.6BMD 70.6
-94.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿46.93
$2.15BMD 2.15
-33.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿913.6K
$20.4KBMD 20.4K
36.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿887.2K
$34.6KBMD 34.6K
-21.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Paget Parish
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,446
$257BMD 257
-59.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿375
$150BMD 150
-92.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿577
$118BMD 118
-85.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Paget Parish
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,787
$200BMD 200
-72.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿376
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿256
$13.23BMD 13.23
-41.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Paget Parish
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$1,309BMD 1,309
-55.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿380.8K
$25.4KBMD 25.4K
-54.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Paget Parish
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,092
$89.6BMD 89.6
-28.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿957
$70.8BMD 70.8
-58.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,164
$140BMD 140
-31.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,960
$128BMD 128
-29.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Paget Parish
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.1K
$3,993BMD 3,993
-81.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
$3,118BMD 3,118
-83.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿69.9K
$8,342BMD 8,342
-74.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.2K
$9,090BMD 9,090
-86.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.2K
$6,082BMD 6,082
-56.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Paget Parish
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.7K
$4,053BMD 4,053
-87.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
8.63
-35.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Paget Parish: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $3,993 in Paget Parish. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Paget Parish pays 698% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $147 in Paget Parish for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $797 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 Paget Parish: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Paget Parish?
Phuket and Paget Parish differ by about 334% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $5,489 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 698% lower in Paget Parish. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Paget Parish?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $3,993 in Paget Parish. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Paget Parish?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $1,309 in Paget Parish. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $147 in Paget Parish. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $5,489 in Paget Parish, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Paget Parish. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Paget Parish?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Paget Parish safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Paget Parish are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Paget Parish?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 334% less than in Paget Parish. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.