Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sannicolau Mare Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sannicolau Mare

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,020 in Sannicolau Mare.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,566 in Sannicolau Mare.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,111 in Sannicolau Mare.

Living in Phuket is roughly 24% more expensive than Sannicolau Mare, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Sannicolau Mare 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sannicolau Mare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$9.08 RON 41.09
-49.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$46.74 RON 211
-0.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$6.90 RON 31.21
22.75%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$3.19 RON 14.44
-5.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$2.07 RON 9.36
-66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$1.78 RON 8.06
-79.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$2.74 RON 12.41
-9.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$3.40 RON 15.38
7.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sannicolau Mare
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.44 RON 6.51
51.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$1.26 RON 5.71
50.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.57 RON 7.11
40.13%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$3.38 RON 15.27
-34.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$7.86 RON 35.55
154.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$6.22 RON 28.15
-41.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$8.76 RON 39.65
51.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$1.22 RON 5.53
164.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$1.51 RON 6.83
12.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$1.65 RON 7.48
44.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$2.18 RON 9.87
-4.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$0.77 RON 3.48
106.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$0.87 RON 3.92
70.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$1.05 RON 4.76
-1.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.92 RON 4.15
-43.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$6.14 RON 27.78
-30.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$8.41 RON 38.05
123.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$1.00 RON 4.51
76.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$1.78 RON 8.07
55.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sannicolau Mare
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$0.66 RON 2.97
106.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$19.52 RON 88.3
-41.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$0.89 RON 4.04
252.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$0.86 RON 3.89
20.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$9.34 RON 42.26
47.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$1.59 RON 7.17
-15.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$28.6K RON 129.2K
-3.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$25.9K RON 117.1K
30.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sannicolau Mare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$141 RON 639
-12.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$8.58 RON 38.82
57.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$11.20 RON 50.7
66.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sannicolau Mare
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$41.27 RON 187
49.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$19.14 RON 86.6
-9.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$7.00 RON 31.67
30.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sannicolau Mare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$431 RON 1,951
62.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$6,793 RON 30.7K
133.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sannicolau Mare
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$68.3 RON 309
-12.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$37.90 RON 171
-7.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$83.3 RON 377
38.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$93.6 RON 423
-10.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sannicolau Mare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$394 RON 1,784
56.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$291 RON 1,316
48.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$595 RON 2,691
246.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$435 RON 1,967
247.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$2,030 RON 9,181
79.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$1,198 RON 5,418
119.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sannicolau Mare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.5
-18.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Sannicolau Mare: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $394 in Sannicolau Mare. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $47.00 in Sannicolau Mare. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $205, with Sannicolau Mare 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 Sannicolau Mare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sannicolau Mare cheaper than Phuket?
Sannicolau Mare is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $1,530 in Sannicolau Mare 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Sannicolau Mare?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $394 in Sannicolau Mare. 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 $431 in Sannicolau Mare. 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 Sannicolau Mare?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Sannicolau Mare?
At $1,020 in Sannicolau Mare versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sannicolau Mare but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sannicolau Mare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sannicolau Mare more family-friendly?
For families, Sannicolau Mare 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 Sannicolau Mare?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sannicolau Mare 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 Sannicolau Mare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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