Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Philipsburg

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $3,094 in Philipsburg, rent and utilities included – about $21,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

Philipsburg

🇸🇽 Sint Maarten

$3,094

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Philipsburg

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 Philipsburg actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $3,094 in Philipsburg.

Phuket $1,278
Philipsburg $3,094

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $6,080 in Philipsburg.

Phuket $2,216
Philipsburg $6,080

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $9,066 in Philipsburg.

Phuket $3,154
Philipsburg $9,066

Living in Phuket costs roughly 59% less than in Philipsburg, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Philipsburg is 127% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$15.29 ANG 27.37

-70.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,094

$68.7 ANG 123

-52.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$8.01 ANG 14.34

9.99%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.4

$4.43 ANG 7.93

-36.12%

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

$0.87 ฿29.42

$2.86 ANG 5.13

-69.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.66

$4.07 ANG 7.29

-87.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.3

$2.94 ANG 5.26

-12.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$6.65 ANG 11.90

-44.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$3.02 ANG 5.41

-45.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.32

$2.73 ANG 4.89

-46.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$2.46 ANG 4.40

-39.02%

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$6.46 ANG 11.56

-67.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿643

$18.14 ANG 32.47

5.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

$13.75 ANG 24.61

-76.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

$15.14 ANG 27.10

-27.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.9

$5.09 ANG 9.11

-42.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.0

$5.07 ANG 9.07

-66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$8.79 ANG 15.73

-74.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.1

$7.70 ANG 13.78

-72.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

$3.94 ANG 7.04

-61.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$4.06 ANG 7.27

-66.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.97

$4.95 ANG 8.86

-78.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.51

$1.36 ANG 2.44

-61.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

$7.88 ANG 14.11

-46.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$10.95 ANG 19.61

71.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.5

$4.98 ANG 8.91

-63.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿49.00

$2.32 ANG 4.15

-37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,912

$1.53 ANG 2.74

3603.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$14.87 ANG 26.61

-79.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.34

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.78

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

$26.8K ฿903.7K

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

$26.7K ฿900.8K

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

$96.4 ฿3,252

$153 ANG 273

-36.85%

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

$11.26 ฿380

$32.43 ANG 58.1

-65.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿569

$65.0 ANG 116

-74.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,269

$63.6 ANG 114

5.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

$11.02 ANG 19.72

-31.94%

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

$476 ฿16.1K

$253 ANG 452

88.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿380.1K

$12.2K ANG 21.9K

-7.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,105

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿959

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,182

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,896

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.2K

$2,126 ANG 3,805

-66.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$1,983 ANG 3,550

-75.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.0K

$6,627 ANG 11.9K

-70.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$6,545 ANG 11.7K

-78.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿140.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿17.0K

$1,111 ANG 1,988

-54.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Philipsburg: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

Philipsburg

–

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

Philipsburg

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

Philipsburg

–

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Philipsburg

–

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Philipsburg

–

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

Philipsburg

–

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

Philipsburg

–

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $2,126 in Philipsburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Philipsburg pays about 2.2 times more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $69 in Philipsburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $494 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇸🇽 Philipsburg

🕒 Local time

17:39 5:39 PM

06:39 6:39 AM

11 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

1,900 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Netherlands Antillean Guilder ANG ƒ

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1 ANG = 0.559 USD

1 ANG = 0.501 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ANG, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Netherlands Antillean Guilder exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.79 ANG (1 ANG = 0.559 USD). 1 EUR = 2 ANG (1 ANG = 0.501 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Phuket Philipsburg 16,490 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Philipsburg

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 Philipsburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Philipsburg. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 55% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $2,126 in Philipsburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 86% higher in Philipsburg. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32 versus $69 in Philipsburg. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,278 in Phuket versus $3,094 in Philipsburg, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Philipsburg. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

It comes down to priorities – Phuket wins on affordability, Philipsburg on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.