Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Saint Helier

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $3,375 in Saint Helier, rent and utilities included – about $25,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Saint Helier, Jersey
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Saint Helier
🇯🇪 Jersey
$3,375
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Saint Helier

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Saint Helier actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $3,375 in Saint Helier.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Saint Helier $3,375

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $4,992 in Saint Helier.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Saint Helier $4,992

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $6,608 in Saint Helier.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Saint Helier $6,608

Living in Phuket costs roughly 62% less than in Saint Helier, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Saint Helier is 148% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Saint Helier
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$40.25 JEP 30.07
-88.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,093
$122 JEP 90.8
-73.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$10.76 JEP 8.04
-18.12%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$4.95 JEP 3.70
-42.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.41
$3.34 JEP 2.50
-73.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.65
$2.51 JEP 1.88
-80.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$8.08 JEP 6.04
-68.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$6.29 JEP 4.70
-41.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Saint Helier
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$2.30 JEP 1.72
-27.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.31
$2.82 JEP 2.11
-48.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$3.83 JEP 2.86
-60.84%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$6.16 JEP 4.60
-66.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$7.24 JEP 5.41
163.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$11.94 JEP 8.92
-72.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$18.58 JEP 13.88
-41.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$4.20 JEP 3.14
-30.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$3.54 JEP 2.65
-52.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$4.13 JEP 3.08
-45.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$4.46 JEP 3.33
-53.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$3.24 JEP 2.42
-53.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.52
$3.14 JEP 2.35
-56.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.96
$1.91 JEP 1.43
-43.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$2.57 JEP 1.92
-79.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$19.77 JEP 14.77
-78.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$10.79 JEP 8.06
74.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$4.54 JEP 3.39
-59.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.8
$7.87 JEP 5.88
-63.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Saint Helier
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.98
$3.39 JEP 2.53
-57.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$69.7 JEP 52.0
-18.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$5.39 JEP 4.03
-43.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.33
$2.42 JEP 1.81
-57.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$52.5 JEP 39.22
-92.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.76
$2.12 JEP 1.59
-30.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.4K
$26.4K JEP 19.7K
1.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.5K
$37.2K JEP 27.8K
-28.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Saint Helier
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,251
$318 JEP 237
-69.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$44.74 JEP 33.42
-74.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$74.6 JEP 55.7
-77.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Saint Helier
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,268
$76.7 JEP 57.3
-12.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$28.22 JEP 21.08
-61.98%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$19.74 JEP 14.74
-62.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Saint Helier
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$2,272 JEP 1,697
-79.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.0K
$12.0K JEP 8,980
-6.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Saint Helier
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,104
$105 JEP 78.3
-40.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿958
$72.1 JEP 53.9
-60.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,181
$119 JEP 89.0
-20.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,895
$207 JEP 155
-58.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Saint Helier
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$1,873 JEP 1,399
-61.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$1,581 JEP 1,181
-68.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$3,115 JEP 2,327
-38.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$2,550 JEP 1,905
-43.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$11.7K JEP 8,752
-64.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.7K
$10.5K JEP 7,827
-70.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Saint Helier
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$4,623 JEP 3,453
-89.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.08
36.52%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Saint Helier: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Saint Helier
$1.6K 222% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Saint Helier
$424 59.3% $158
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Saint Helier
$437 251% $313
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Saint Helier
$227 85.8% $105
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Saint Helier
$490 303% $368
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Saint Helier
$116 41.3% $34
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Saint Helier
$101 42.7% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $1,873 in Saint Helier. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint Helier pays about 9.2 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $122 in Saint Helier for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $424 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇯🇪 Saint Helier
🕒 Local time
21:17 9:17 PM
14:17 2:17 PM
7 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
32,522 Capital
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

JEP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Jersey Pound exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.747 JEP (1 JEP = 1.34 USD). 1 EUR = 0.834 JEP (1 JEP = 1.2 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Saint Helier 10,100 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Saint Helier

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Helier: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Saint Helier?
Phuket is about 62% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Saint Helier?
On paper, salaries run 89% lower in Phuket. 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 Helier?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $1,873 in Saint Helier. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $2,272 in Saint Helier. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Saint Helier?
Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Saint Helier. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Saint Helier?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $3,375 in Saint Helier, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Saint Helier. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Saint Helier more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Saint Helier, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Saint Helier?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Saint Helier are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Saint Helier. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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