😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $662 in Samtredia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,110 in Samtredia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,558 in Samtredia.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 91% more expensive than Samtredia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Samtredia51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Samtredia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$11.18₾29.68
-57.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$44.70₾119
1.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$8.66₾23.00
-2.66%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$2.98₾7.92
-1.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$0.82₾2.17
-15.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.42₾1.12
-11.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.20₾5.85
9.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$3.01₾8.00
23.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Samtredia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$2.01₾5.33
10.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$0.72₾1.92
154.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$1.83₾4.86
18.58%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$2.45₾6.50
-9.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$7.85₾20.85
151.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$6.34₾16.84
-42.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$9.25₾24.55
46.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.21₾3.21
171.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.66₾4.40
-3.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.87₾4.97
28.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$2.33₾6.19
-10.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$0.65₾1.73
135.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$0.67₾1.79
120.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.18₾3.13
-16.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.66₾1.76
-22.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$2.92₾7.76
51.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$7.63₾20.27
154.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.58₾4.19
12.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$2.33₾6.20
16.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Samtredia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$1.43₾3.79
111.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$0.69₾1.82
43.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$7.34₾19.48
92.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.13₾3.01
20.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$18.6K₾49.4K
51.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$20.1K₾53.5K
63.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Samtredia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$73.1₾194
66.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$11.80₾31.33
15.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$17.50₾46.47
4.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Samtredia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$6.65₾17.65
30.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Samtredia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$266₾705
161.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$5,224₾13.9K
200.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Samtredia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$77.6₾206
-23.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$43.35₾115
-19.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$117₾311
-2.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$112₾298
-25.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Samtredia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Samtredia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11.89
-55.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Samtredia: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $45.00 in Samtredia. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $206, with Samtredia 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 Samtredia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samtredia cheaper than Phuket?
Samtredia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 91% 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 $993 in Samtredia 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 $693 in Phuket versus $266 in Samtredia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Samtredia?
Dining out is cheaper in Samtredia – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Samtredia?
At $662 in Samtredia versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Samtredia but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Samtredia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Samtredia more family-friendly?
For families, Samtredia 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 Samtredia?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Samtredia 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 Samtredia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.