Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Phan Thiet Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Phan Thiet

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $636 in Phan Thiet, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $998 in Phan Thiet, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,360 in Phan Thiet, rent included.

Phuket costs about 94% more than Phan Thiet, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Phan Thiet are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Phan Thiet 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$2.61 ₫68.5K

77.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,523

$20.66 ₫542.7K

126.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿287

$3.80 ₫99.9K

132.63%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿97.4

$1.06 ₫27.8K

183.02%

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

$0.74 ฿24.11

$0.39 ₫10.1K

89.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.88

$0.22 ₫5,743

68.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.3

$0.56 ₫14.8K

335.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿117

$1.18 ₫30.9K

205.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.5

$1.22 ₫32.1K

85.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿59.8

$0.37 ₫9,635

397.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.0

$0.91 ₫24.0K

146.15%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.3

$1.18 ₫31.0K

96.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿639

$15.03 ₫394.8K

30.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$3.05 ₫80.1K

19.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿426

$8.46 ₫222.1K

54.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿110

$1.87 ₫49.2K

81.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.4

$0.75 ₫19.8K

118.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.5

$1.29 ₫34.0K

86.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.0

$0.92 ₫24.2K

120.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.6

$0.67 ₫17.6K

132.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.66

$0.66 ₫17.3K

127.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.30

$0.60 ₫15.8K

70.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿15.91

$0.52 ₫13.6K

-5.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$1.51 ₫39.7K

194.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿614

$9.23 ₫242.4K

104.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿57.7

$0.40 ₫10.4K

345.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿89.5

$1.40 ₫36.9K

96.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.54

$0.34 ₫8,935

311.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿373

$6.54 ₫171.8K

75.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿101

$0.37 ₫9,632

743.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.48

$0.60 ₫15.8K

66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿458

$2.71 ₫71.3K

419.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿43.93

$0.91 ₫24.0K

48.35%

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

$27.2K ฿883.7K

$21.4K ₫562.2M

26.98%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$39.7K ₫1.0B

-16.98%

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

$125 ฿4,063

$43.50 ₫1.1M

187.31%

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

$13.57 ฿441

$5.70 ₫149.7K

138.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿602

$9.38 ₫246.4K

97.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿1,999

$21.70 ₫569.9K

183.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

$7.53 ₫197.8K

123.64%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿299

$2.85 ₫74.7K

222.46%

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

$698 ฿22.7K

$285 ₫7.5M

144.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿506.9K

$11.5K ₫300.7M

36.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

$23.02 ₫604.5K

150.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,146

$22.91 ₫601.6K

53.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,677

$37.78 ₫992.2K

199.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,808

$58.1 ₫1.5M

48.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.0K

$362 ₫9.5M

69.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.5K

$244 ₫6.4M

83.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿66.6K

$672 ₫17.7M

204.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.5K

$471 ₫12.4M

217.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿122.8K

$3,322 ₫87.2M

13.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.1K

$1,230 ₫32.3M

115.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

9.1

-41.43%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Phan Thiet: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $362 in Phan Thiet. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $21.00 in Phan Thiet. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $169 – making Phan Thiet 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 Phan Thiet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $636 in Phan Thiet – roughly 94% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $955 in Phan Thiet. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phan Thiet, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $285 in Phan Thiet. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 73% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Phan Thiet, where all-in costs run around $636, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Phan Thiet it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket 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 $636 in Phan Thiet to $1,232 in Phuket. 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 Phan Thiet. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.