😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,079 in Roche Terre.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $1,746 in Roche Terre.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $2,413 in Roche Terre.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 13% more expensive than Roche Terre, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Roche Terre19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Roche Terre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$6.68MUR 315
-32.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$44.57MUR 2,098
4.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$7.02MUR 331
20.94%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$2.57MUR 121
19.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$1.02MUR 48.24
-33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$0.56MUR 26.48
-35.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$2.26MUR 107
7.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$3.26MUR 154
11.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Roche Terre
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$1.71MUR 80.3
28.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$0.70MUR 32.81
158.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$1.27MUR 59.6
75.59%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$2.22MUR 105
0.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$11.73MUR 552
67.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$6.04MUR 285
-38.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
$12.70MUR 598
6.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$2.08MUR 97.9
61.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$2.02MUR 94.9
-19.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$1.49MUR 70.2
61.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$2.75MUR 130
-27.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$1.03MUR 48.34
48.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$1.00MUR 47.04
45.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$0.80MUR 37.85
26.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$0.75MUR 35.50
-36.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$6.76MUR 318
-36.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$8.31MUR 391
130.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$1.74MUR 81.8
5.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$2.22MUR 104
23.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Roche Terre
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
$1.00MUR 46.95
42.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$4.52MUR 213
-33.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$2.70MUR 127
-61.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$20.19MUR 951
-31.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$1.39MUR 65.6
-7.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$35.9KMUR 1.7M
-21.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$28.5KMUR 1.3M
17.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Roche Terre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$49.38MUR 2,325
147.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$18.38MUR 865
-24.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$33.79MUR 1,591
-44.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Roche Terre
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
$38.07MUR 1,793
60.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$6.06MUR 286
46.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Roche Terre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$152MUR 7,167
354.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$3,946MUR 185.8K
309.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Roche Terre
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$85.5MUR 4,024
-32.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$79.7MUR 3,750
-55.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$131MUR 6,186
-13.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$95.9MUR 4,515
-13.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Roche Terre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
$507MUR 23.9K
19.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
$352MUR 16.6K
27.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
$934MUR 44.0K
117.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
$732MUR 34.5K
103.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Roche Terre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.67
-20.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Roche Terre: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $507 in Roche Terre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $45.00 in Roche Terre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $231 per month, with Roche Terre 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 Roche Terre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roche Terre cheaper than Phuket?
Roche Terre is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,835 in Phuket and $1,619 in Roche Terre to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Roche Terre?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $507 in Roche Terre. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $152 in Roche Terre. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Roche Terre?
Dining out is cheaper in Roche Terre – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Roche Terre?
At $1,079 in Roche Terre versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Roche Terre but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Roche Terre the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Roche Terre more family-friendly?
For families, Roche Terre 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 Roche Terre?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Roche Terre 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 Roche Terre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.