Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and SekiCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Seki
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $766 in Seki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,266 in Seki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,767 in Seki.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 61% more expensive than in Seki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Seki44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Seki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$8.93₼15.17
-50.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,074
$41.57₼70.7
-22.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$7.74₼13.16
15.37%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.4
$3.43₼5.83
-15.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.30
$1.20₼2.03
-26.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.01
$0.62₼1.05
-22.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.3
$1.80₼3.07
30.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$2.71₼4.60
37.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Seki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.1
$1.51₼2.56
23.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.81
$0.49₼0.83
200.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.7
$2.56₼4.35
-39.45%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.0
$2.07₼3.52
1.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿652
$5.02₼8.54
290.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$5.31₼9.03
-35.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿379
$12.00₼20.40
-5.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.3
$1.41₼2.40
111.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.1
$1.81₼3.08
-7.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$1.55₼2.64
42.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.0
$1.82₼3.09
18.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.8
$0.73₼1.24
108.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.55
$0.62₼1.06
116.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.57
$0.73₼1.24
54.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.19
$0.73₼1.25
-24.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$2.97₼5.06
43.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$8.86₼15.06
115.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$1.58₼2.68
12.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.6
$2.87₼4.88
-3.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Seki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.2
$0.28₼0.47
696.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿757
$17.95₼30.51
26.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$2.11₼3.59
43.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.06
$0.61₼1.04
67.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$3.50₼5.94
11.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.63
$0.65₼1.10
129.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿884.9K
$24.0K₼40.8K
10.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿899.8K
$20.9K₼35.6K
29.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Seki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,411
$23.10₼39.26
343.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$8.86₼15.07
27.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿579
$11.30₼19.21
53.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Seki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,734
$17.33₼29.45
200.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿369
$23.41₼39.78
-52.71%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$6.02₼10.23
27.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Seki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$324₼551
72.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿383.0K
$6,720₼11.4K
71.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Seki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,098
$68.7₼117
-8.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿983
$55.0₼93.5
-46.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,263
$132₼224
-25.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,946
$116₼198
-23.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Seki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$212₼360
248.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$143₼243
236.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.1K
$445₼757
373.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
$256₼435
379.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.4K
$657₼1,116
450.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.7K
$353₼599
638.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Seki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$248₼422
98.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
9.08
-38.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Seki: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $212 in Seki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 99% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $42.00 in Seki. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $196, with Seki 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 Seki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seki cheaper than Phuket?
Seki is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Seki?
Average pay runs 99% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Seki?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $212 in Seki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $324 in Seki. 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 in Seki?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Seki?
At $766 in Seki versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Seki but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Seki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Seki more family-friendly?
For families, Seki 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 Seki?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Seki 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 Seki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.