😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $929 in Prachin Buri.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,530 in Prachin Buri.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,132 in Prachin Buri.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 33% more expensive than in Prachin Buri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Prachin Buri32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Prachin Buri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$3.42฿114
28.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$36.77฿1,227
-12.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$8.91฿297
0.22%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$2.08฿69.5
39.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$0.69฿23.17
27.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$0.32฿10.82
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$2.50฿83.5
-6.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$2.75฿91.9
35.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Prachin Buri
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.44฿48.01
29.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$1.20฿40.18
22.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$0.92฿30.85
68.48%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$1.61฿53.7
30.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$10.49฿350
86.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$2.55฿85.1
34.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$10.46฿349
8.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$3.45฿115
-13.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$0.75฿25.02
124.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$1.87฿62.6
18.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$1.07฿35.83
101.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$1.17฿38.89
29.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$1.05฿35.20
27.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$1.23฿41.20
-8.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.36฿11.97
52.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$4.45฿149
-4.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$12.35฿412
54.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$1.74฿58.1
2.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$3.02฿101
-7.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Prachin Buri
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$0.90฿29.93
147.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.04฿34.67
191.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$1.10฿36.73
-7.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$3.68฿123
5.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.09฿36.29
36.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$46.9K฿1.6M
-43.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$27.3K฿910.4K
-0.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Prachin Buri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$94.2฿3,145
8.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$11.70฿391
-3.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$9.91฿331
75.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Prachin Buri
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$47.29฿1,579
10.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$14.45฿482
-23.39%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$7.54฿252
1.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Prachin Buri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$640฿21.4K
-12.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$14.9K฿497.2K
-22.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Prachin Buri
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$50.9฿1,699
23.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$30.40฿1,015
-2.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$95.0฿3,171
3.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$77.8฿2,598
13.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Prachin Buri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$455฿15.2K
62.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$301฿10.1K
60.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$1,423฿47.5K
48.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$767฿25.6K
59.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$1,949฿65.1K
85.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$1,642฿54.8K
58.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Prachin Buri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$460฿15.4K
7.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.96
-6.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Prachin Buri: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $455 in Prachin Buri. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 7% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $37.00 in Prachin Buri. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $201, with Prachin Buri cheaper for home cooking.
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 Prachin Buri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Prachin Buri cheaper than Phuket?
Prachin Buri is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Prachin Buri?
Average pay runs 7% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Prachin Buri?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $455 in Prachin Buri. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $640 in Prachin Buri. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Prachin Buri?
Dining out is cheaper in Prachin Buri – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Prachin Buri?
At $929 in Prachin Buri versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Prachin Buri but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Prachin Buri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Prachin Buri more family-friendly?
For families, Prachin Buri 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 Prachin Buri?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Prachin Buri 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 Prachin Buri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.