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: $1,250 in Phuket versus $209 in Sebha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $283 in Sebha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $358 in Sebha.

Living in Phuket is roughly 498% more expensive than in Sebha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sebha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sebha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$0.89 LYD 5.64
153.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$0.77 LYD 4.93
192.21%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$1.35 LYD 8.59
66.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$8.64 LYD 55.0
51.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$1.94 LYD 12.38
66.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.38 LYD 8.77
17.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$0.92 LYD 5.87
158.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$0.48 LYD 3.07
322.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$0.52 LYD 3.34
194.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$0.48 LYD 3.04
212.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$0.29 LYD 1.83
79.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sebha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$1.03 LYD 6.54
0.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$0.03 LYD 0.17
4266.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sebha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,118
$24.92 LYD 159
391.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sebha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
$8.06 LYD 51.4
650.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sebha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sebha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sebha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
$140 LYD 890
347.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$99.6 LYD 635
346.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
$201 LYD 1,282
913.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$121 LYD 768
1138.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sebha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sebha: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $140 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
Is Sebha cheaper than Phuket?
Sebha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 498% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,875 in Phuket and $314 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Sebha?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $140 in Sebha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Sebha?
Supermarket bills run roughly 294% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Sebha?
All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $209 in Sebha – a 498% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Sebha?
At $209 in Sebha versus $1,250 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.
Is Phuket or Sebha more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Sebha?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sebha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 498% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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