Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Pecs Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Pecs

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,178 in Pecs.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,771 in Pecs.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,364 in Pecs.

Living in Phuket is roughly 7% more expensive than Pecs, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Pecs 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Pecs
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$8.52 Ft 2,577
-46.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$43.59 Ft 13.2K
6.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$8.88 Ft 2,685
-4.62%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$2.22 Ft 672
36.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$1.14 Ft 345
-39.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$0.93 Ft 282
-60.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$1.57 Ft 474
58.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.12 Ft 643
72.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Pecs
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.10 Ft 333
98.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$1.56 Ft 473
21.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.85 Ft 559
18.92%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$2.44 Ft 738
-9.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$9.49 Ft 2,871
110.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$6.09 Ft 1,843
-39.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$14.07 Ft 4,258
-5.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$1.92 Ft 581
68.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$2.08 Ft 630
-18.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$2.19 Ft 662
9.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$3.49 Ft 1,056
-40.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$1.21 Ft 366
31.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$1.23 Ft 372
20.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$1.78 Ft 538
-42.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.58 Ft 175
-10.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$7.11 Ft 2,152
-40.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$4.93 Ft 1,491
281.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$1.16 Ft 351
51.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$2.03 Ft 613
35.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Pecs
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$1.42 Ft 431
-4.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$24.79 Ft 7,499
-54.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$3.23 Ft 978
-2.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$1.16 Ft 349
-10.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$22.69 Ft 6,864
-39.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$1.68 Ft 508
-20.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$27.5K Ft 8.3M
0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$31.4K Ft 9.5M
7.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Pecs
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$161 Ft 48.8K
-23.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$27.67 Ft 8,372
-51.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$19.37 Ft 5,861
-3.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Pecs
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$43.45 Ft 13.1K
42.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$21.36 Ft 6,463
-19.24%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$8.09 Ft 2,447
12.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Pecs
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$410 Ft 123.9K
71.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$7,176 Ft 2.2M
121.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Pecs
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$90.7 Ft 27.5K
-34.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$45.11 Ft 13.6K
-22.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$93.9 Ft 28.4K
22.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$102 Ft 30.8K
-17.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Pecs
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$490 Ft 148.2K
26.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$364 Ft 110.0K
18.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$679 Ft 205.3K
203.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$565 Ft 171.0K
167.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$3,588 Ft 1.1M
1.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$3,073 Ft 929.8K
-14.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Pecs
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
$1,123 Ft 339.9K
-54.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
8
-33.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Pecs: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $490 in Pecs. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pecs pays 122% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $44.00 in Pecs for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $233 per month, with Pecs 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 Pecs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pecs cheaper than Phuket?
Pecs is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Pecs?
On paper, Pecs earns 122% less. 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 Pecs?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $490 in Pecs. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Pecs runs roughly 118% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $410 in Pecs. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Pecs?
At $1,178 in Pecs versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pecs but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Pecs the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Pecs more family-friendly?
For families, Pecs is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Pecs?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Pecs 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Pecs gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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