Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Pak Kret

For one person, living is cheaper in Pak Kret: $951 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Pak Kret, Thailand
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Pak Kret
🇹🇭 Thailand
$951
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Pak Kret

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 Pak Kret actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Phuket versus $951 in Pak Kret.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • Pak Kret $951

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,204 in Phuket versus $1,513 in Pak Kret.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • Pak Kret $1,513

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,115 in Phuket versus $2,075 in Pak Kret.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • Pak Kret $2,075

Living in Phuket is roughly 36% more expensive than in Pak Kret, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 4% lower, Pak Kret 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Pak Kret
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿148
$2.91 ฿98.2
50.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,090
$27.18 ฿917
18.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿294
$7.21 ฿243
20.67%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.9
$2.01 ฿67.7
35.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.38
$0.63 ฿21.31
47.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.85
$0.27 ฿9.19
85.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿85.4
$2.36 ฿79.6
7.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿122
$2.65 ฿89.2
36.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Pak Kret
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.7
$1.59 ฿53.5
9.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$1.43 ฿48.08
1.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.7
$1.40 ฿47.11
7.14%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿73.3
$2.11 ฿71.0
2.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿644
$15.26 ฿515
25.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿115
$2.48 ฿83.8
37.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿368
$9.96 ฿336
9.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿99.2
$3.47 ฿117
-15.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$1.25 ฿42.26
35.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿74.0
$1.92 ฿64.6
14.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.6
$1.88 ฿63.5
12.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿49.19
$1.23 ฿41.39
18.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿46.14
$1.04 ฿35.20
31.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿36.29
$1.27 ฿42.89
-14.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.40
$0.39 ฿13.14
41.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿149
$4.19 ฿141
5.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿616
$15.04 ฿507
21.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.8
$1.68 ฿56.5
5.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿97.2
$2.88 ฿97.1
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Pak Kret
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.82
$0.79 ฿26.57
83.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,851
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.06 ฿35.83
42.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿26.17
$1.09 ฿36.68
-28.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿129
$3.54 ฿119
8.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿50.2
$1.46 ฿49.32
2.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿906.7K
$31.5K ฿1.1M
-14.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿888.6K
$26.8K ฿903.2K
-1.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Pak Kret
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,299
$91.8 ฿3,096
6.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿381
$11.51 ฿388
-1.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿580
$17.53 ฿591
-1.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Pak Kret
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,305
$47.13 ฿1,590
44.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿368
$14.69 ฿496
-25.66%
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿251
$7.49 ฿253
-0.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Pak Kret
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.9K
$625 ฿21.1K
-15.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿633.5K
$20.8K ฿703.2K
-9.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Pak Kret
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,080
$50.9 ฿1,717
21.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿953
$28.98 ฿977
-2.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,238
$95.2 ฿3,209
0.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,928
$74.8 ฿2,524
16.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Pak Kret
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.3K
$386 ฿13.0K
86.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.2K
$322 ฿10.9K
58.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.8K
$1,170 ฿39.5K
66.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿47.1K
$696 ฿23.5K
100.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿141.4K
$2,385 ฿80.4K
75.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿111.3K
$1,807 ฿60.9K
82.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Pak Kret
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.25
6.10%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Pak Kret: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
Pak Kret
$322 36.7% $187
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
Pak Kret
$234 12.4% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
Pak Kret
$121 4.3% $5.5
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
Pak Kret
$112 8.4% $10
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
Pak Kret
$90 25% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
Pak Kret
$62 25.3% $21
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
Pak Kret
$9.7 * 85.4% $56

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Phuket and $386 in Pak Kret. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $27 in Pak Kret for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $234 per month, with Pak Kret cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇹🇭 Pak Kret
🕒 Local time
15:56 3:56 PM
15:56 3:56 PM
Same time as Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
190,272
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Pak Kret 710 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Pak Kret

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 Pak Kret: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pak Kret cheaper than Phuket?
Pak Kret is about 27% cheaper overall, especially in transport, groceries, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,940 in Phuket and $1,426 in Pak Kret to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Pak Kret?
Rent for a central apartment: $721 in Phuket versus $386 in Pak Kret. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Pak Kret?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Pak Kret?
All in, you’ll spend $1,294 per month in Phuket versus $951 in Pak Kret – Pak Kret is about 27% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Pak Kret?
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.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Pak Kret?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Pak Kret are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?