Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Papeete Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Papeete

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $2,393 in Papeete, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $3,560 in Papeete, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $4,728 in Papeete, rent included.

Phuket is about 47% cheaper than Papeete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Papeete is 74% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

$19.66 CFPF 2,014

-76.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,065

$96.5 CFPF 9,885

-66.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

$15.44 CFPF 1,582

-43.78%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿95.8

$3.45 CFPF 353

-15.94%

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

$0.84 ฿27.89

$2.72 CFPF 279

-69.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.16

$3.39 CFPF 348

-85.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.0

$3.35 CFPF 343

-25.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

$3.98 CFPF 408

-6.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ฿62.3

$1.48 CFPF 151

27.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿46.54

$2.83 CFPF 290

-50.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

$1.67 CFPF 171

-2.99%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.1

$6.70 CFPF 687

-66.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.84 ฿656

$29.17 CFPF 2,989

-31.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿115

$15.75 CFPF 1,613

-77.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

$27.10 CFPF 2,776

-58.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.8

$4.93 CFPF 505

-41.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿57.0

$2.53 CFPF 259

-32.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.1

$6.86 CFPF 702

-66.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.4

$8.14 CFPF 834

-73.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.72

$2.82 CFPF 288

-47.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.92

$2.33 CFPF 238

-39.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.25

$3.95 CFPF 404

-72.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.76

$1.20 CFPF 123

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

$13.12 CFPF 1,344

-67.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

$22.20 CFPF 2,274

-16.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.5

$2.82 CFPF 289

-36.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.0

$3.18 CFPF 326

-6.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

$1.96 CFPF 201

14.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿102

$9.83 CFPF 1,008

-68.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.16

$1.58 CFPF 161

-9.49%

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

$27.8K ฿918.0K

$19.4K CFPF 2.0M

42.89%

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

$27.0K ฿891.5K

$29.2K CFPF 3.0M

-7.55%

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

$105 ฿3,462

$186 CFPF 19.1K

-43.74%

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

$11.39 ฿376

$20.21 CFPF 2,070

-43.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 ฿580

$71.8 CFPF 7,353

-75.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

$87.8 CFPF 8,992

-38.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

$14.67 CFPF 1,503

-46.97%

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

$576 ฿19.0K

$482 CFPF 49.4K

19.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿382.7K

$9,779 CFPF 1.0M

18.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,103

$72.2 CFPF 7,392

-11.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿961

$75.7 CFPF 7,753

-61.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 ฿3,179

$80.4 CFPF 8,234

19.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ฿2,974

$92.2 CFPF 9,442

-2.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ฿24.2K

$1,365 CFPF 139.9K

-46.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.5K

$964 CFPF 98.8K

-48.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ฿70.2K

$1,928 CFPF 197.6K

10.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

$1,584 CFPF 162.3K

-20.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.8K

$7,343 CFPF 752.3K

-51.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.6K

$7,943 CFPF 813.7K

-66.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

$2,446 CFPF 250.5K

-79.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.5

23.78%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Papeete: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $1,365 in Papeete. 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 382% higher in Papeete, 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 $96.0 in Papeete. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $540 – making Phuket 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 Papeete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Papeete is pricier by about 89%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $3,590 in Papeete. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $2,393 in Papeete. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $576 per month in Phuket and $482 in Papeete. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Papeete at $2,393. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Papeete it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Papeete makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.