ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,578 in Sesimbra.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,353 in Sesimbra.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $3,128 in Sesimbra.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 22% less than in Sesimbra, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Sesimbra is 18% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Sesimbra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$12.85âŽ11.00
-63.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$47.05âŽ40.27
-0.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$9.48âŽ8.11
-6.75%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.58âŽ2.21
16.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$1.72âŽ1.47
-56.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.36âŽ1.16
-72.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$2.28âŽ1.95
7.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$3.52âŽ3.01
2.56%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sesimbra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.09âŽ0.93
107.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.01âŽ1.72
-8.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.03âŽ1.74
10.34%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.20âŽ2.74
-27.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$11.12âŽ9.52
76.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$7.93âŽ6.79
-53.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$14.31âŽ12.25
-8.46%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.66âŽ2.28
27.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.53âŽ1.31
7.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.78âŽ1.52
35.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.92âŽ2.50
-30.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.52âŽ1.30
2.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$2.28âŽ1.95
-34.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.92âŽ0.79
10.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.89âŽ0.76
-44.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$5.90âŽ5.05
-24.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$4.62âŽ3.96
308.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.28âŽ1.09
39.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$3.22âŽ2.76
-14.60%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Sesimbra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.42âŽ1.22
-1.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$46.11âŽ39.47
-75.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$3.66âŽ3.13
-14.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.25âŽ1.07
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$17.26âŽ14.78
-18.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.87âŽ1.60
-27.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$35.1KâŽ30.1K
-22.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$39.2KâŽ33.6K
-16.03%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sesimbra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$104âŽ89.2
20.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$21.68âŽ18.56
-37.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$43.52âŽ37.25
-57.44%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sesimbra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$45.63âŽ39.06
34.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$7.89âŽ6.75
16.48%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sesimbra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$743âŽ636
-6.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$7,246âŽ6,202
115.19%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sesimbra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$68.7âŽ58.8
-15.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$39.59âŽ33.89
-10.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$70.8âŽ60.6
59.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$91.7âŽ78.5
-5.83%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sesimbra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$827âŽ708
-25.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$702âŽ601
-36.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,407âŽ1,204
45.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,135âŽ971
31.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$3,167âŽ2,711
19.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,475âŽ2,118
7.03%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sesimbra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$1,477âŽ1,264
-64.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.01
6.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Sesimbra: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $827 in Sesimbra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Sesimbra pays 182% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $47.00 in Sesimbra. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $258, with Sesimbra 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 Sesimbra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sesimbra cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sesimbra?
On paper, Sesimbra earns 182% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Sesimbra?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $827 in Sesimbra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $743 in Sesimbra. 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 Sesimbra?
Shoppers in Sesimbra pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Sesimbra?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,578 in Sesimbra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Sesimbra. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sesimbra more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sesimbra, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Sesimbra?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sesimbra 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 28% less than in Sesimbra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.