Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Palma de Mallorca

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,357 in Palma de Mallorca, rent and utilities included – about $12,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Palma de Mallorca
🇪🇸 Spain
$2,357
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Palma de Mallorca

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 Palma de Mallorca actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,357 in Palma de Mallorca.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Palma de Mallorca $2,357

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $3,467 in Palma de Mallorca.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Palma de Mallorca $3,467

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $4,577 in Palma de Mallorca.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Palma de Mallorca $4,577

Living in Phuket costs roughly 46% less than in Palma de Mallorca, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Palma de Mallorca is 73% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Palma de Mallorca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$18.38 €16.40
-75.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,093
$66.2 €59.0
-51.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$13.58 €12.12
-35.13%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$3.12 €2.78
-9.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.40
$2.60 €2.32
-66.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.65
$2.72 €2.43
-81.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$4.34 €3.87
-41.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$3.97 €3.54
-7.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Palma de Mallorca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$1.36 €1.21
22.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.29
$1.18 €1.05
23.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.63 €1.45
-7.98%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$3.50 €3.12
-40.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$14.70 €13.11
29.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$8.90 €7.94
-62.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$15.78 €14.08
-30.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.8
$2.44 €2.18
20.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$2.04 €1.82
-17.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.7
$1.70 €1.52
32.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$2.78 €2.48
-25.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.95 €1.74
-22.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.51
$2.16 €1.92
-36.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.95
$1.27 €1.14
-15.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.50
$0.64 €0.57
-18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$6.73 €6.00
-37.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$5.43 €4.85
246.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.4
$1.31 €1.17
38.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.8
$1.91 €1.71
48.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Palma de Mallorca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.97
$2.21 €1.98
-34.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,911
$41.10 €36.67
37.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$4.96 €4.43
-39.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.32
$1.37 €1.22
-25.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿124
$23.84 €21.27
-84.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.75
$1.80 €1.61
-18.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.2K
$32.1K €28.6K
-16.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.3K
$32.1K €28.6K
-16.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Palma de Mallorca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,250
$244 €218
-60.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$23.37 €20.85
-51.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$42.15 €37.61
-60.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Palma de Mallorca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,268
$60.7 €54.1
10.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$26.93 €24.03
-60.16%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$9.52 €8.49
-21.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Palma de Mallorca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$608 €542
-21.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.9K
$10.7K €9,562
5.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Palma de Mallorca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,103
$70.7 €63.1
-11.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿958
$54.7 €48.76
-48.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,180
$100.0 €89.2
-5.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,894
$129 €115
-33.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Palma de Mallorca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.1K
$1,614 €1,440
-55.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$1,199 €1,070
-59.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$2,601 €2,320
-25.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$2,041 €1,821
-29.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.8K
$7,165 €6,393
-41.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.7K
$4,158 €3,710
-26.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Palma de Mallorca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$2,011 €1,794
-75.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.07
81.43%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Palma de Mallorca: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Palma de Mallorca
$1.2K 144% $708
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Palma de Mallorca
$271 1.8% $4.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Palma de Mallorca
$310 149% $185
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Palma de Mallorca
$159 30.7% $37
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Palma de Mallorca
$276 127% $154
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Palma de Mallorca
$80 3.1% $2.5
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Palma de Mallorca
$62 12.5% $8.8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $1,614 in Palma de Mallorca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Palma de Mallorca pays about 4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $66 in Palma de Mallorca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $271 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇪🇸 Palma de Mallorca
🕒 Local time
04:16 4:16 AM
22:16 10:16 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
423,350
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Palma de Mallorca 9,930 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Palma de Mallorca

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 Palma de Mallorca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Palma de Mallorca?
Phuket is about 46% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and utilities. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Palma de Mallorca?
On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Phuket. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Palma de Mallorca?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $1,614 in Palma de Mallorca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $608 in Palma de Mallorca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Palma de Mallorca?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32 versus $66 in Palma de Mallorca. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Palma de Mallorca?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,357 in Palma de Mallorca, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Palma de Mallorca. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Palma de Mallorca more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Palma de Mallorca, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Phuket wins on affordability, Palma de Mallorca on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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