🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,487 in Saint Andrew Parish.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $2,416 in Saint Andrew Parish.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $3,345 in Saint Andrew Parish.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 17% less than in Saint Andrew Parish, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Saint Andrew Parish is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$15.54JMD 2,435
-71.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,073
$66.6JMD 10.4K
-51.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$8.64JMD 1,353
3.36%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.3
$5.49JMD 860
-47.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.27
$1.20JMD 189
-26.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.00
$0.73JMD 115
-34.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.2
$2.26JMD 354
3.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$3.23JMD 506
15.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.0
$3.40JMD 532
-45.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.75
$2.53JMD 397
-41.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.57JMD 246
-1.27%
Eggs
$2.10฿69.9
$3.51JMD 550
-40.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿651
$11.68JMD 1,831
67.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$6.44JMD 1,009
-46.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿378
$10.52JMD 1,648
8.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.2
$5.92JMD 929
-49.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.0
$4.01JMD 629
-58.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$5.01JMD 785
-55.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿71.9
$3.08JMD 483
-29.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.7
$3.21JMD 504
-52.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.49
$2.72JMD 426
-50.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.53
$1.86JMD 292
-39.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.17
$0.99JMD 155
-44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$9.36JMD 1,467
-54.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$11.36JMD 1,781
68.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$2.61JMD 409
-31.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.5
$3.15JMD 493
-11.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.1
$0.60JMD 94.7
271.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿756
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$0.90JMD 141
236.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.02
$3.12JMD 488
-67.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿129
$6.48JMD 1,016
-39.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.57
$1.28JMD 200
16.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿883.8K
$43.7KJMD 6.8M
-39.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿898.7K
$25.2KJMD 4.0M
7.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,407
$113JMD 17.8K
-9.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$29.07JMD 4,556
-61.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿578
$53.4JMD 8,367
-67.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,732
$61.1JMD 9,581
-14.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$13.49JMD 2,114
-42.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.6K
$258JMD 40.5K
117.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿382.6K
$8,164JMD 1.3M
40.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,096
$23.76JMD 3,724
165.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿982
$31.85JMD 4,991
-7.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,259
$77.1JMD 12.1K
27.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,943
$74.9JMD 11.7K
18.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.5K
$826JMD 129.5K
-10.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.0K
$520JMD 81.4K
-7.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.0K
$1,714JMD 268.6K
22.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
$1,116JMD 174.9K
9.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.3K
$2,708JMD 424.4K
33.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Saint Andrew Parish
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$736JMD 115.4K
-32.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
9
-38.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Saint Andrew Parish: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $826 in Saint Andrew Parish. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saint Andrew Parish pays 49% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $67.0 in Saint Andrew Parish for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $344 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 Saint Andrew Parish: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saint Andrew Parish cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 21% 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 49% 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: $738 in Phuket versus $826 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 $561 in Phuket versus $258 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 Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $67.0 in Saint Andrew Parish. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Saint Andrew Parish?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,487 in Saint Andrew Parish, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Saint Andrew Parish. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Saint Andrew Parish more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Saint Andrew Parish, 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Saint Andrew Parish. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.