Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Palikir Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Palikir

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,658 in Palikir, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,239 in Palikir, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $2,820 in Palikir, rent included.

Phuket is about 26% cheaper than Palikir, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Palikir is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$29.47 $29.47

-84.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$44.42 $44.42

5.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$5.87 $5.87

50.60%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$2.96 $2.96

1.35%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ฿24.25

$1.18 $1.18

-37.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$2.05 $2.05

-81.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$1.02 $1.02

139.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$1.97 $1.97

83.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$0.22 $0.22

927.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$2.26 $2.26

-18.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$2.16 $2.16

3.70%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$2.42 $2.42

-4.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$4.49 $4.49

338.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$4.32 $4.32

-15.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$6.80 $6.80

92.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$3.58 $3.58

-5.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$2.52 $2.52

-34.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$2.26 $2.26

6.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$3.16 $3.16

-35.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$3.23 $3.23

-51.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$2.26 $2.26

-33.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$1.93 $1.93

-47.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$1.13 $1.13

-56.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$18.29 $18.29

-75.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$6.67 $6.67

183.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.41 $1.41

26.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.37 $1.37

100.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$0.77 $0.77

81.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

$34.46 $34.46

-66.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.23 $6.23

-49.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$1.63 $1.63

-38.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

$4.83 $4.83

191.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$3.05 $3.05

-55.74%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$3,999 $3,999

579.81%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$4,015 $4,015

719.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$125 ฿4,087

$40.44 $40.44

209.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿444

$15.13 $15.13

-10.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$267 $267

-93.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$41.05 $41.05

49.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

$20.09 $20.09

-16.18%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$7.14 $7.14

28.71%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$698 ฿22.8K

$113 $113

518.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

$1,714 $1,714

809.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$20.36 $20.36

183.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$25.49 $25.49

38.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$70.9 $70.9

59.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$54.5 $54.5

58.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$700 $700

-11.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$601 $601

-25.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$757 $757

170.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$644 $644

131.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

$844 $844

347.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

$687 $687

285.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

$246 $246

113.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

380000

-100.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Palikir: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $700 in Palikir. 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 113% higher in Phuket, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $44.00 in Palikir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $215 – making Palikir 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 Palikir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,658 in Palikir – roughly 35% apart. Palikir costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,487 in Palikir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 36% cheaper in Palikir – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $44.00 in Palikir. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Palikir at $1,658. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Palikir it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $1,658 in Palikir. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Palikir makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.