😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,151 in Saint Andrew Parish.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,900 in Saint Andrew Parish.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,650 in Saint Andrew Parish.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 10% more expensive than Saint Andrew Parish, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Saint Andrew Parish14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$7.61JMD 1,197
-40.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$34.16JMD 5,373
36.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$6.24JMD 981
35.74%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$1.90JMD 299
59.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$0.96JMD 152
-28.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.75JMD 117
-50.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$2.43JMD 383
2.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$3.16JMD 497
15.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$4.26JMD 670
-48.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$1.03JMD 162
84.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$1.29JMD 202
70.54%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$3.46JMD 544
-35.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$10.96JMD 1,723
82.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$6.29JMD 989
-41.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$7.57JMD 1,191
75.03%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$5.99JMD 942
-46.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$3.09JMD 487
-44.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$4.15JMD 652
-42.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$2.90JMD 456
-28.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$2.01JMD 316
-20.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$2.02JMD 318
-26.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$3.08JMD 484
-66.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$1.50JMD 236
-65.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$8.85JMD 1,392
-51.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$11.46JMD 1,802
63.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$2.77JMD 436
-36.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$3.19JMD 502
-13.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$1.11JMD 175
182.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$3.15JMD 496
-66.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$6.22JMD 977
121.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.28JMD 202
4.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$42.1KJMD 6.6M
-34.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$34.1KJMD 5.4M
-0.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$165JMD 25.9K
-24.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$21.80JMD 3,429
-37.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$51.1JMD 8,029
-63.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$13.05JMD 2,052
-29.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$222JMD 34.9K
216.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$2,473JMD 389.0K
541.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$26.59JMD 4,182
123.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$25.91JMD 4,074
35.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$71.1JMD 11.2K
62.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$75.4JMD 11.9K
11.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$747JMD 117.4K
-17.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$309JMD 48.6K
40.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$1,880JMD 295.7K
9.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$884JMD 139.0K
70.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$2,760JMD 434.1K
32.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$724JMD 113.8K
-29.94%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Saint Andrew Parish: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $747 in Saint Andrew Parish. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saint Andrew Parish pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $34.00 in Saint Andrew Parish. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $322, 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, Saint Andrew Parish earns 43% 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 $747 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 $703 in Phuket versus $222 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 $1,151 in Saint Andrew Parish versus $1,261 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.