Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Say'un Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Say'un

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $89.4 in Say'un.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $151 in Say'un.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $212 in Say'un.

Living in Phuket is roughly 1316% more expensive than Say'un, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Say'un 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.40

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.07 YER 254

71.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$2.18 YER 520

-0.46%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$2.14 YER 509

53.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$2.23 YER 532

-27.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.17 YER 516

11.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$2.23 YER 532

-6.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$2.17 YER 516

-29.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$2.15 YER 512

-31.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.02 YER 243

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$1.03 YER 245

-50.49%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 YER 347

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.2K ฿921.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿3,975

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿443

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Say'un: June 1, 2026

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 Say'un: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Say'un is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1316% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $134 in Say'un 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 224% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $89.4 in Say'un – a 1316% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $89.4 in Say'un versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Say'un but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Say'un the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Say'un 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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Say'un are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Say'un gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1316% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.