Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sebha Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sebha

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $210 in Sebha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $285 in Sebha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $359 in Sebha.

Living in Phuket is roughly 501% more expensive than Sebha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Sebha 84% 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

$0.94 LYD 5.94

137.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$0.81 LYD 5.16

167.90%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.36 LYD 8.63

62.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$8.69 LYD 55.2

55.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.97 LYD 12.49

66.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.38 LYD 8.76

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.92 LYD 5.85

161.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.48 LYD 3.04

333.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.51 LYD 3.25

200.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.52 LYD 3.31

184.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.31 LYD 2.00

64.52%

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

$1.01 LYD 6.42

-1.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.03 LYD 0.16

4433.33%

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

$25.27 LYD 160

381.60%

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

$7.86 LYD 49.88

666.16%

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

$139 LYD 879

342.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$98.9 LYD 628

341.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$202 LYD 1,284

936.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$121 LYD 770

1144.80%

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 Sebha: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $139 in Sebha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 Sebha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sebha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 501% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $316 in Sebha 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $139 in Sebha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 292% 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 $210 in Sebha – a 501% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $210 in Sebha versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sebha but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sebha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Sebha 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 Sebha 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 Sebha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 501% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.