ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,284 in Reutlingen.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $3,685 in Reutlingen.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $5,086 in Reutlingen.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 46% less than in Reutlingen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Reutlingen is 71% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Reutlingen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$18.27âŽ15.60
-74.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,523
$86.3âŽ73.7
-45.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ287
$11.75âŽ10.03
-24.77%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ97.4
$3.88âŽ3.31
-22.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.11
$3.40âŽ2.91
-78.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.88
$2.39âŽ2.04
-84.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.3
$5.24âŽ4.47
-53.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ117
$5.47âŽ4.67
-34.00%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Reutlingen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.5
$1.32âŽ1.13
71.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ59.8
$2.32âŽ1.98
-20.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.0
$3.14âŽ2.68
-28.66%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.3
$4.43âŽ3.78
-47.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ639
$15.31âŽ13.07
28.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$14.62âŽ12.49
-75.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ426
$20.16âŽ17.22
-35.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ110
$3.13âŽ2.67
8.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.4
$1.94âŽ1.66
-15.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ78.5
$2.54âŽ2.17
-5.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.0
$4.95âŽ4.23
-58.99%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.6
$1.80âŽ1.54
-13.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.66
$1.70âŽ1.45
-11.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.30
$1.83âŽ1.56
-44.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ15.91
$1.09âŽ0.93
-55.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$9.95âŽ8.49
-55.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ614
$7.10âŽ6.06
165.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ57.7
$1.13âŽ0.97
57.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ89.5
$1.72âŽ1.47
59.88%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Reutlingen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.54
$3.51âŽ3.00
-60.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ373
$57.7âŽ49.29
-80.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ101
$5.91âŽ5.04
-47.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.48
$2.03âŽ1.73
-50.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ458
$32.51âŽ27.76
-56.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ43.93
$2.04âŽ1.74
-33.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
$31.1KâŽ26.5K
-12.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$32.6KâŽ27.9K
0.84%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Reutlingen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,063
$377âŽ322
-66.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ441
$39.64âŽ33.85
-65.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ602
$53.8âŽ45.98
-65.60%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Reutlingen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ1,999
$45.62âŽ38.96
34.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ547
$17.02âŽ14.53
-1.06%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ299
$14.13âŽ12.07
-34.96%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Reutlingen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.7K
$695âŽ594
0.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
$22.1KâŽ18.9K
-29.43%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Reutlingen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,878
$141âŽ121
-59.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,146
$64.6âŽ55.2
-45.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,677
$132âŽ112
-14.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,808
$159âŽ136
-45.77%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Reutlingen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.0K
$1,017âŽ868
-39.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.5K
$821âŽ701
-45.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
$2,256âŽ1,927
-9.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
$1,887âŽ1,612
-20.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
$7,394âŽ6,315
-48.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
$5,962âŽ5,092
-55.57%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Reutlingen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.0K
$3,488âŽ2,979
-84.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.97
34.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Reutlingen: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $1,017 in Reutlingen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Reutlingen pays 566% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $86.0 in Reutlingen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $361 per month, with Phuket 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 Reutlingen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Reutlingen cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Reutlingen?
On paper, Reutlingen earns 566% less. 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 Reutlingen?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $1,017 in Reutlingen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $695 in Reutlingen. 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 Reutlingen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Reutlingen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Reutlingen?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,284 in Reutlingen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Reutlingen. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Reutlingen more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Reutlingen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Reutlingen?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Reutlingen 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 â expenses run 85% less than in Reutlingen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.