😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,152 in Saint Andrew Parish.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,857 in Saint Andrew Parish.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $2,562 in Saint Andrew Parish.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 10% more expensive than in Saint Andrew Parish, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Saint Andrew Parish13% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$7.67JMD 1,208
-41.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$34.87JMD 5,492
30.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$6.20JMD 977
41.29%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$1.92JMD 303
54.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$0.91JMD 143
-24.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.74JMD 117
-47.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$2.43JMD 383
4.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$3.11JMD 491
20.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$4.24JMD 668
-49.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$1.05JMD 166
73.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.22JMD 192
78.69%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$3.60JMD 566
-37.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$10.97JMD 1,728
82.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$6.23JMD 981
-41.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$7.60JMD 1,198
78.42%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$6.11JMD 963
-46.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$3.12JMD 491
-47.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$4.13JMD 650
-43.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$3.05JMD 480
-32.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$2.09JMD 330
-25.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$1.93JMD 303
-24.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$3.04JMD 478
-67.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$1.50JMD 235
-68.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$8.98JMD 1,414
-51.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$11.52JMD 1,814
61.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$2.80JMD 440
-33.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$3.22JMD 507
-17.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$1.07JMD 168
196.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$3.14JMD 495
-67.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$6.28JMD 989
121.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.27JMD 201
5.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$43.1KJMD 6.8M
-35.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$32.9KJMD 5.2M
1.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$162JMD 25.5K
-24.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$22.24JMD 3,502
-38.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$52.0JMD 8,190
-64.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$13.18JMD 2,075
-32.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$223JMD 35.1K
208.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$2,442JMD 384.5K
546.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$26.01JMD 4,096
127.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$25.72JMD 4,051
34.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$71.0JMD 11.2K
62.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$77.7JMD 12.2K
7.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$755JMD 118.9K
-17.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$311JMD 48.9K
43.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$1,895JMD 298.5K
7.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$889JMD 139.9K
68.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$2,736JMD 430.8K
26.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$720JMD 113.4K
-31.44%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Saint Andrew Parish: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $755 in Saint Andrew Parish. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saint Andrew Parish pays 46% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Saint Andrew Parish. Groceries flip the comparison at $291 vs $324, 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Saint Andrew Parish?
On paper, salaries run 46% lower in Saint Andrew Parish. 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: $621 in Phuket versus $755 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 $688 in Phuket versus $223 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 in Saint Andrew Parish?
Dining out is cheaper in Saint Andrew Parish – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Saint Andrew Parish?
At $1,152 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $1,264 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 10% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.