Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Pattani Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Pattani

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $916 in Pattani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,483 in Pattani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,050 in Pattani.

Living in Phuket is roughly 34% more expensive than Pattani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Pattani 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Pattani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$3.04 ฿99.5
52.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$27.54 ฿900
70.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$6.47 ฿211
36.63%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$2.07 ฿67.8
44.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$0.73 ฿23.93
1.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.38 ฿12.31
-2.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$2.44 ฿79.9
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$3.80 ฿124
-5.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Pattani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.70 ฿55.5
32.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$1.40 ฿45.89
31.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.31 ฿42.72
70.99%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$2.24 ฿73.3
3.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$18.64 ฿610
5.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$3.06 ฿99.9
19.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$10.66 ฿349
22.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$3.18 ฿104
6.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$1.20 ฿39.14
36.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$1.92 ฿62.6
25.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$1.55 ฿50.6
30.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$1.54 ฿50.5
1.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$1.20 ฿39.09
25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$0.97 ฿31.74
5.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.52 ฿16.94
-5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$4.35 ฿142
2.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$14.88 ฿486
26.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.79 ฿58.4
-0.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$2.74 ฿89.7
0.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Pattani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$0.89 ฿28.96
57.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$1.10 ฿35.84
183.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$1.19 ฿38.81
-15.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$6.34 ฿207
122.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.28 ฿41.75
5.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$27.6K ฿902.1K
-1.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$27.2K ฿889.4K
21.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Pattani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$76.2 ฿2,490
64.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$13.55 ฿443
0.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$18.89 ฿618
-1.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Pattani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$49.81 ฿1,629
23.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$12.01 ฿393
40.22%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$7.00 ฿229
31.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Pattani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$294 ฿9,601
137.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$9,818 ฿321.0K
58.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Pattani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$33.44 ฿1,093
72.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$35.27 ฿1,153
-0.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$99.0 ฿3,238
14.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$70.2 ฿2,294
23.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Pattani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$428 ฿14.0K
44.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$284 ฿9,281
57.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$807 ฿26.4K
153.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$646 ฿21.1K
131.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$2,057 ฿67.3K
83.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$1,539 ฿50.3K
72.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Pattani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.45
-2.20%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Pattani: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $428 in Pattani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $28.00 in Pattani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $248 per month, with Pattani 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 Pattani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Pattani?
Pattani wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pattani the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Pattani?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $1,374 in Pattani 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Pattani?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $428 in Pattani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Pattani?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Pattani?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $916 in Pattani – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Pattani?
At $916 in Pattani versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pattani but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Pattani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Pattani?
Both work as nomad bases, but Pattani delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $916 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pattani hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Pattani?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Pattani are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Pattani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities