Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Saint Ann's Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Saint Ann's Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,029 in Saint Ann's Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,626 in Saint Ann's Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $2,223 in Saint Ann's Bay.

Living in Phuket is roughly 23% more expensive than in Saint Ann's Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Saint Ann's Bay 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Saint Ann's Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$15.54 JMD 2,441
-70.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$49.54 JMD 7,781
-34.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$8.64 JMD 1,357
0.46%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$5.19 JMD 815
-44.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$1.20 JMD 188
-30.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$0.73 JMD 114
-32.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$2.26 JMD 355
9.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$3.10 JMD 487
20.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Saint Ann's Bay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$4.21 JMD 662
-55.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$3.84 JMD 604
-63.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$1.62 JMD 254
-
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$3.52 JMD 553
-36.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$11.31 JMD 1,776
75.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$6.39 JMD 1,003
-45.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$10.43 JMD 1,638
9.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$5.92 JMD 929
-51.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$3.78 JMD 594
-54.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$7.59 JMD 1,193
-70.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$3.13 JMD 491
-31.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$3.29 JMD 516
-55.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$2.63 JMD 413
-46.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$3.03 JMD 476
-63.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$1.47 JMD 231
-59.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$9.37 JMD 1,472
-54.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$11.52 JMD 1,809
61.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$2.92 JMD 459
-38.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$3.91 JMD 614
-24.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Saint Ann's Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$1.17 JMD 184
164.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$3.12 JMD 491
-65.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$6.38 JMD 1,002
-39.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$1.32 JMD 207
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$44.9K JMD 7.1M
-38.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$32.5K JMD 5.1M
-17.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Saint Ann's Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$178 JMD 28.0K
-41.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$29.66 JMD 4,659
-61.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$53.6 JMD 8,426
-67.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Saint Ann's Bay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$13.17 JMD 2,069
-40.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Saint Ann's Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$356 JMD 55.9K
61.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$8,294 JMD 1.3M
39.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Saint Ann's Bay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$24.11 JMD 3,787
163.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$32.22 JMD 5,061
-9.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$76.9 JMD 12.1K
25.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$101 JMD 15.9K
-11.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Saint Ann's Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Saint Ann's Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9.45
-41.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Saint Ann's Bay: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $50.0 in Saint Ann's Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $387 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 Ann's Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saint Ann's Bay cheaper than Phuket?
Saint Ann's Bay is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $1,544 in Saint Ann's Bay to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $356 in Saint Ann's Bay. 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 Ann's Bay?
Dining out is cheaper in Saint Ann's Bay – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Saint Ann's Bay?
At $1,029 in Saint Ann's Bay versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Saint Ann's Bay but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Ann's Bay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Saint Ann's Bay more family-friendly?
For families, Saint Ann's Bay 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 Ann's Bay?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Saint Ann's Bay 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 Ann's Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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