Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Quesnel

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $2,330 in Quesnel, rent and utilities included – about $13,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Quesnel
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,330
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Quesnel

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $2,330 in Quesnel.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Quesnel $2,330

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $3,279 in Quesnel.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Quesnel $3,279

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $4,227 in Quesnel.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Quesnel $4,227

Living in Phuket costs roughly 48% less than in Quesnel, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 11% below, Quesnel is 73% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Quesnel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$16.27 CA$23.00
-71.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$44.91 CA$63.5
-27.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$10.90 CA$15.41
-21.56%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$4.02 CA$5.69
-32.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$2.38 CA$3.36
-60.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$1.99 CA$2.81
-75.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$4.50 CA$6.37
-42.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$5.74 CA$8.12
-33.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Quesnel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$2.27 CA$3.21
-23.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$2.45 CA$3.46
-41.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$3.95 CA$5.59
-61.27%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$4.66 CA$6.59
-53.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$11.82 CA$16.72
62.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$16.49 CA$23.31
-79.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$16.55 CA$23.40
-32.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$4.05 CA$5.72
-27.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.29 CA$1.82
30.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$4.36 CA$6.17
-47.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$4.27 CA$6.03
-50.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$3.04 CA$4.30
-49.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$3.64 CA$5.15
-62.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$2.46 CA$3.48
-54.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$1.72 CA$2.43
-68.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$11.87 CA$16.78
-64.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$10.46 CA$14.79
73.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$2.55 CA$3.60
-31.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$3.24 CA$4.58
-13.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Quesnel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$2.22 CA$3.14
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
$55.6 CA$78.7
-60.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$2.49 CA$3.53
16.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$2.15 CA$3.03
-53.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$41.45 CA$58.6
-90.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$1.24 CA$1.76
20.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$28.6K CA$40.4K
-6.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$22.1K CA$31.2K
20.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Quesnel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$172 CA$243
-42.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$38.46 CA$54.4
-70.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$69.1 CA$97.7
-74.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Quesnel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$40.54 CA$57.3
28.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
$18.31 CA$25.89
-40.74%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$7.26 CA$10.26
4.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Quesnel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$736 CA$1,041
-24.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$12.4K CA$17.5K
-7.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Quesnel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$36.45 CA$51.5
72.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$45.75 CA$64.7
-37.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$76.6 CA$108
25.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$107 CA$151
-17.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Quesnel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$771 CA$1,089
-5.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$1,133 CA$1,601
-59.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$1,910 CA$2,701
9.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$1,664 CA$2,353
-26.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$3,754 CA$5,306
-7.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$3,780 CA$5,344
-34.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Quesnel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$2,424 CA$3,427
-79.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.35
4.11%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Quesnel: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Quesnel
$1.1K 146% $673
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Quesnel
$403 50.7% $136
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Quesnel
$280 119% $152
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Quesnel
$120 3.6% $4.5
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Quesnel
$263 116% $141
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Quesnel
$55 18.3% $12
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Quesnel
$78 99.9% $39

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $771 in Quesnel. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Quesnel pays 392% 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 $45.00 in Quesnel for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $403 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇦 Quesnel
🕒 Local time
03:59 3:59 AM
13:59 1:59 PM
14 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
10,007
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Quesnel 12,230 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Quesnel

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 Quesnel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quesnel cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and transport. The 93% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Quesnel?
On paper, salaries run 392% lower in Quesnel. 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 Quesnel?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $771 in Quesnel. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $558 in Phuket versus $736 in Quesnel. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Quesnel?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Quesnel. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Quesnel?
At $1,207 in Phuket versus $2,330 in Quesnel, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Quesnel. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Quesnel more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Quesnel, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Quesnel?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Quesnel 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Quesnel. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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