Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Pogradec Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Pogradec

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,007 in Pogradec.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,499 in Pogradec.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,991 in Pogradec.

Living in Phuket is roughly 25% more expensive than Pogradec, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Pogradec 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$8.02 ALL 655

-43.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$37.69 ALL 3,079

23.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$7.28 ALL 595

16.35%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$0.93 ALL 75.7

225.81%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$1.60 ALL 131

-56.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.70 ALL 56.8

-47.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$1.37 ALL 112

81.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.52 ALL 206

45.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$2.02 ALL 165

7.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.85 ALL 69.5

123.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$2.02 ALL 165

8.91%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$2.06 ALL 168

7.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$7.43 ALL 607

169.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.14 ALL 338

-11.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$13.17 ALL 1,076

0.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.16 ALL 94.9

178.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$2.37 ALL 193

-28.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$1.39 ALL 113

71.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.20 ALL 98.2

73.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.93 ALL 75.8

70.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$0.97 ALL 79.1

52.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.97 ALL 79.3

6.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.72 ALL 58.6

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$3.96 ALL 324

7.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$9.93 ALL 811

89.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.17 ALL 95.3

50.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$1.76 ALL 144

56.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.48 ALL 39.34

183.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$19.06 ALL 1,557

-40.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$3.47 ALL 283

-9.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$1.60 ALL 130

-35.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$17.57 ALL 1,436

-21.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$2.11 ALL 172

-36.49%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$34.0K ALL 2.8M

-18.53%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$25.0K ALL 2.0M

35.68%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$67.0 ALL 5,476

84.38%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$17.67 ALL 1,444

-23.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$15.99 ALL 1,306

16.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$55.3 ALL 4,520

11.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$25.27 ALL 2,064

-31.74%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$8.05 ALL 658

13.54%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$94.0 ALL 7,680

647.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$46.63 ALL 3,810

27.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$53.6 ALL 4,378

-34.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$95.8 ALL 7,830

20.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$142 ALL 11.6K

-40.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$443 ALL 36.2K

39.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$338 ALL 27.6K

28.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$611 ALL 49.9K

237.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$437 ALL 35.7K

246.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

$1,552 ALL 126.8K

134.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

$1,451 ALL 118.6K

80.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$462 ALL 37.7K

9.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

33.25%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Pogradec: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $443 in Pogradec. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 10% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $38.00 in Pogradec for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $206 per month, with Pogradec 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 Pogradec: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pogradec is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Phuket pays 10% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $443 in Pogradec. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $94.0 in Pogradec. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,007 in Pogradec versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pogradec but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Pogradec the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Pogradec 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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Pogradec are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pogradec gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.