Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and SรจteCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sรจte
Monthly Cost of Living
๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,933 in Sรจte.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $2,958 in Sรจte.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $3,982 in Sรจte.
๐Living in Phuket costs roughly 35% less than in Sรจte, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Sรจte is 44% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Sรจte
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56เธฟ149
$17.27โฌ14.88
-73.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63เธฟ1,519
$57.1โฌ49.15
-18.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47เธฟ276
$13.20โฌ11.37
-35.83%
Cappuccino
$3.03เธฟ98.6
$3.46โฌ2.98
-12.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69เธฟ22.45
$2.77โฌ2.39
-75.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37เธฟ11.92
$1.86โฌ1.60
-80.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49เธฟ81.0
$7.13โฌ6.14
-65.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66เธฟ119
$7.06โฌ6.09
-48.16%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sรจte
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18เธฟ71.0
$1.42โฌ1.22
53.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90เธฟ62.0
$1.63โฌ1.40
16.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20เธฟ71.6
$2.87โฌ2.47
-23.34%
Eggs
$2.22เธฟ72.4
$4.03โฌ3.48
-44.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99เธฟ651
$24.20โฌ20.85
-17.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66เธฟ119
$12.18โฌ10.50
-69.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25เธฟ432
$25.84โฌ22.27
-48.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23เธฟ105
$3.20โฌ2.75
0.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70เธฟ55.3
$2.17โฌ1.87
-21.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39เธฟ78.0
$3.45โฌ2.97
-30.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08เธฟ67.7
$3.54โฌ3.05
-41.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59เธฟ51.8
$2.33โฌ2.01
-31.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48เธฟ48.31
$2.24โฌ1.93
-33.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03เธฟ33.54
$1.65โฌ1.42
-37.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52เธฟ16.83
$0.82โฌ0.71
-36.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25เธฟ138
$14.01โฌ12.07
-69.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79เธฟ612
$9.94โฌ8.56
89.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76เธฟ57.2
$3.50โฌ3.01
-49.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76เธฟ89.8
$3.52โฌ3.03
-21.59%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
Sรจte
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36เธฟ44.32
$1.87โฌ1.61
-27.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36เธฟ370
$49.19โฌ42.38
-76.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14เธฟ102
$5.27โฌ4.54
-40.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04เธฟ33.74
$1.96โฌ1.69
-46.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77เธฟ448
$33.95โฌ29.25
-59.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34เธฟ43.79
$2.11โฌ1.82
-36.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7Kเธฟ901.4K
$37.9Kโฌ32.7K
-26.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9Kเธฟ1.1M
$38.4Kโฌ33.1K
-11.72%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sรจte
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124เธฟ4,025
$282โฌ243
-56.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52เธฟ440
$27.07โฌ23.32
-50.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69เธฟ609
$34.95โฌ30.11
-46.52%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sรจte
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8เธฟ2,013
$37.01โฌ31.89
67.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25เธฟ562
$18.24โฌ15.71
-5.43%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14เธฟ298
$13.66โฌ11.77
-33.09%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sรจte
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703เธฟ22.9K
$405โฌ349
73.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kเธฟ517.0K
$8,199โฌ7,064
93.59%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sรจte
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5เธฟ1,937
$86.1โฌ74.2
-30.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07เธฟ1,142
$45.30โฌ39.03
-22.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115เธฟ3,754
$88.4โฌ76.1
30.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1เธฟ2,737
$159โฌ137
-47.15%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sรจte
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619เธฟ20.1K
$773โฌ666
-19.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433เธฟ14.1K
$606โฌ522
-28.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062เธฟ67.2K
$1,377โฌ1,186
49.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511เธฟ49.2K
$1,070โฌ922
41.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646เธฟ118.7K
$4,084โฌ3,519
-10.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626เธฟ85.5K
$3,124โฌ2,691
-15.95%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sรจte
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507เธฟ16.5K
$2,311โฌ1,991
-78.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.64
46.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Sรจte: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $773 in Sรจte. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐSรจte pays 356% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $57.0 in Sรจte for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $402 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 Sรจte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sรจte cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sรจte?
On paper, Sรจte earns 356% 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 Sรจte?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $773 in Sรจte. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $405 in Sรจte. 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 Sรจte?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Sรจte. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Sรจte?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,933 in Sรจte, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Sรจte. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sรจte more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sรจte, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Sรจte?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sรจte 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 โ expenses run 53% less than in Sรจte. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.