ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,933 in Sabadell.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $2,666 in Sabadell.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,306 in Phuket versus $3,398 in Sabadell.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 36% less than in Sabadell, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 7% below, Sabadell is 43% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Sabadell
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59āļŋ147
$17.69âŽ15.05
-74.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83āļŋ1,501
$58.8âŽ50.0
-20.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70āļŋ279
$10.53âŽ8.96
-17.38%
Cappuccino
$2.92āļŋ93.7
$2.43âŽ2.07
20.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68āļŋ21.92
$2.48âŽ2.11
-72.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40āļŋ12.70
$1.71âŽ1.46
-76.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51āļŋ80.4
$3.48âŽ2.96
-27.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ122
$3.54âŽ3.02
7.34%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sabadell
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16āļŋ69.3
$1.21âŽ1.03
78.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88āļŋ60.3
$2.01âŽ1.71
-6.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16āļŋ69.2
$1.68âŽ1.43
28.57%
Eggs
$2.22āļŋ71.2
$2.86âŽ2.43
-22.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57āļŋ627
$14.12âŽ12.02
38.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80āļŋ122
$9.43âŽ8.03
-59.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41āļŋ430
$19.05âŽ16.21
-29.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26āļŋ104
$2.64âŽ2.25
23.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.7
$2.39âŽ2.03
-32.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31āļŋ74.0
$2.64âŽ2.25
-12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06āļŋ66.0
$2.80âŽ2.39
-26.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.5
$1.45âŽ1.23
11.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44āļŋ46.26
$1.80âŽ1.53
-20.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.01
$1.55âŽ1.32
-33.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48āļŋ15.39
$0.71âŽ0.61
-32.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50āļŋ144
$6.78âŽ5.77
-33.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18āļŋ615
$5.96âŽ5.07
221.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82āļŋ58.4
$1.44âŽ1.22
26.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69āļŋ86.2
$2.12âŽ1.81
26.89%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Sabadell
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38āļŋ44.16
$2.18âŽ1.85
-36.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76āļŋ377
$27.55âŽ23.44
-57.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11āļŋ99.6
$3.49âŽ2.97
-10.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.18
$0.93âŽ0.79
7.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74āļŋ441
$23.47âŽ19.97
-41.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.61
$1.83âŽ1.56
-28.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
$38.0KâŽ32.3K
-27.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$29.7KâŽ25.3K
11.07%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sabadell
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,004
$150âŽ127
-16.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74āļŋ440
$20.53âŽ17.47
-33.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61āļŋ597
$37.63âŽ32.02
-50.54%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sabadell
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6āļŋ1,941
$34.17âŽ29.07
77.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15āļŋ550
$8.69âŽ7.40
97.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01āļŋ289
$9.18âŽ7.81
-1.85%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sabadell
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.4K
$531âŽ452
31.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
$8,572âŽ7,295
87.96%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sabadell
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2āļŋ1,898
$87.3âŽ74.3
-32.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86āļŋ1,118
$34.29âŽ29.18
1.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114āļŋ3,662
$105âŽ89.4
8.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8āļŋ2,751
$99.2âŽ84.4
-13.47%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sabadell
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619āļŋ19.8K
$1,028âŽ875
-39.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437āļŋ14.0K
$918âŽ781
-52.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
$1,456âŽ1,239
42.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
$1,106âŽ941
36.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
$3,697âŽ3,146
1.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
$2,725âŽ2,319
-1.17%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sabadell
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528āļŋ16.9K
$2,234âŽ1,901
-76.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.39
57.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Sabadell: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $1,028 in Sabadell. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Sabadell pays 323% 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 in Phuket vs $59 in Sabadell for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $295 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 Sabadell: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sabadell cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sabadell?
On paper, Sabadell earns 323% 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 Sabadell?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $1,028 in Sabadell. 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 $531 in Sabadell. 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 Sabadell?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Sabadell. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Sabadell?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,933 in Sabadell, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Sabadell. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sabadell more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sabadell, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Sabadell?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sabadell 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 55% less than in Sabadell. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.