😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,112 in Saint Andrew Parish.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $1,858 in Saint Andrew Parish.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,306 in Phuket versus $2,604 in Saint Andrew Parish.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 12% more expensive than Saint Andrew Parish, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket7% lower, Saint Andrew Parish17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59฿147
$7.40JMD 1,171
-37.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83฿1,500
$34.06JMD 5,391
37.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70฿279
$6.09JMD 964
42.86%
Cappuccino
$2.92฿93.7
$1.90JMD 301
53.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿21.90
$0.91JMD 143
-25.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿12.69
$0.71JMD 113
-43.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51฿80.3
$2.48JMD 392
1.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿122
$3.05JMD 483
24.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16฿69.2
$4.22JMD 668
-48.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88฿60.3
$1.02JMD 161
84.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16฿69.1
$1.27JMD 200
70.08%
Eggs
$2.22฿71.1
$3.48JMD 550
-36.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57฿627
$10.89JMD 1,723
79.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80฿122
$6.43JMD 1,018
-40.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41฿430
$7.52JMD 1,190
78.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26฿104
$6.11JMD 967
-46.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿51.6
$3.12JMD 493
-48.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31฿73.9
$4.24JMD 672
-45.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06฿65.9
$2.99JMD 474
-31.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61฿51.4
$2.03JMD 321
-20.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44฿46.23
$1.92JMD 304
-25.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿32.99
$3.10JMD 491
-66.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.38
$1.43JMD 226
-66.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50฿144
$8.56JMD 1,355
-47.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18฿614
$11.56JMD 1,830
65.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82฿58.4
$2.78JMD 441
-34.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69฿86.2
$3.09JMD 488
-12.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38฿44.13
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76฿377
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿99.5
$1.12JMD 177
177.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.16
$3.16JMD 500
-68.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74฿440
$6.09JMD 965
125.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30฿41.58
$1.25JMD 197
4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K฿876.5K
$43.4KJMD 6.9M
-36.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K฿1.1M
$33.7KJMD 5.3M
-2.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,001
$162JMD 25.7K
-22.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74฿440
$22.01JMD 3,483
-37.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61฿596
$51.7JMD 8,189
-64.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6฿1,940
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15฿549
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.01฿289
$13.22JMD 2,092
-31.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.4K
$229JMD 36.2K
204.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1K฿516.2K
$2,526JMD 399.8K
537.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2฿1,897
$26.37JMD 4,174
124.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86฿1,117
$25.69JMD 4,067
35.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114฿3,659
$70.2JMD 11.1K
62.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8฿2,749
$75.4JMD 11.9K
13.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿19.8K
$752JMD 119.0K
-17.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.0K
$310JMD 49.1K
40.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075฿66.5K
$1,904JMD 301.3K
9.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿48.4K
$907JMD 143.6K
66.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764฿120.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694฿86.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528฿16.9K
$743JMD 117.5K
-28.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.15
-41.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Saint Andrew Parish: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $752 in Saint Andrew Parish. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saint Andrew Parish pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47 in Phuket vs $34 in Saint Andrew Parish. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $323, with Phuket 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 Saint Andrew Parish: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saint Andrew Parish cheaper than Phuket?
Saint Andrew Parish is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Saint Andrew Parish?
On paper, Saint Andrew Parish earns 41% 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 Saint Andrew Parish?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $752 in Saint Andrew Parish. 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 $229 in Saint Andrew Parish. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Saint Andrew Parish?
Dining out is cheaper in Saint Andrew Parish – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Saint Andrew Parish?
At $1,112 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $1,247 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saint Andrew Parish but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Andrew Parish the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Saint Andrew Parish more family-friendly?
For families, Saint Andrew Parish 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 Saint Andrew Parish?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Saint Andrew Parish 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 Saint Andrew Parish gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.