Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sidon Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sidon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,008 in Sidon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,726 in Sidon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,445 in Sidon.

Living in Phuket is roughly 25% more expensive than Sidon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Sidon 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sidon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$10.88 LBP 974.2K
-58.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$60.4 LBP 5.4M
-22.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$8.13 LBP 727.8K
4.18%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$3.26 LBP 292.1K
-7.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$1.60 LBP 143.2K
-56.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$0.94 LBP 84.5K
-60.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$3.55 LBP 317.3K
-29.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$5.14 LBP 460.4K
-28.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sidon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.76 LBP 157.5K
23.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$0.81 LBP 72.1K
134.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.80 LBP 161.3K
22.22%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$3.06 LBP 273.9K
-27.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$11.11 LBP 994.0K
79.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$9.33 LBP 835.1K
-60.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$11.26 LBP 1.0M
17.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$1.82 LBP 162.9K
77.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$1.53 LBP 137.0K
11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$1.15 LBP 102.8K
107.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$1.08 LBP 96.8K
92.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$0.94 LBP 83.7K
69.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$1.04 LBP 93.4K
42.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$0.81 LBP 72.3K
27.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.56 LBP 50.5K
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$2.52 LBP 225.2K
68.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$9.84 LBP 880.8K
90.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$1.24 LBP 111.2K
41.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$2.16 LBP 193.6K
27.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sidon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$2.06 LBP 184.0K
-33.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$4.88 LBP 436.8K
-35.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$1.28 LBP 114.7K
-18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$19.77 LBP 1.8M
-30.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$0.96 LBP 85.6K
39.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$35.5K LBP 3.2B
-22.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$27.5K LBP 2.5B
23.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sidon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$217 LBP 19.4M
-42.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$37.64 LBP 3.4M
-64.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$37.71 LBP 3.4M
-50.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sidon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$32.98 LBP 3.0M
87.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$9.93 LBP 888.8K
73.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$6.18 LBP 553.1K
47.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sidon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$303 LBP 27.1M
132.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$4,380 LBP 392.0M
262.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sidon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$70.8 LBP 6.3M
-16.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$45.40 LBP 4.1M
-22.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$121 LBP 10.8M
-4.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$96.3 LBP 8.6M
-12.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sidon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$254 LBP 22.7M
143.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$101 LBP 9.1M
327.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$590 LBP 52.8M
249.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$400 LBP 35.8M
277.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sidon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
11.16
-52.24%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Sidon: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $254 in Sidon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $60.0 in Sidon. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $232, with Sidon 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 Sidon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sidon cheaper than Phuket?
Sidon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $1,512 in Sidon 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 Sidon?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $254 in Sidon. 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 $303 in Sidon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Sidon?
Dining out is cheaper in Sidon – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Sidon?
At $1,008 in Sidon versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sidon but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sidon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sidon more family-friendly?
For families, Sidon 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 Sidon?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sidon 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 Sidon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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