Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Silves Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Silves

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,586 in Silves.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,340 in Silves.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $3,094 in Silves.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 21% less than in Silves, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Silves is 19% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Silves
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$11.69 €10.23
-61.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$45.86 €40.16
0.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$9.21 €8.07
-4.02%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$2.14 €1.88
42.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$1.92 €1.68
-61.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$1.37 €1.20
-70.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$2.38 €2.08
2.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$3.44 €3.01
9.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Silves
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.10 €0.97
105.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$1.56 €1.37
16.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.68 €1.47
33.93%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$3.18 €2.79
-29.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$11.12 €9.74
75.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$7.43 €6.50
-50.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$13.86 €12.14
-5.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$2.32 €2.03
39.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.43 €1.25
13.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$1.80 €1.58
32.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$2.61 €2.28
-22.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$1.50 €1.32
2.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.95 €1.70
-23.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$1.57 €1.37
-37.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$0.82 €0.72
-36.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$6.10 €5.34
-27.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$4.73 €4.14
287.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$1.26 €1.11
47.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
$2.33 €2.04
15.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Silves
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
$2.38 €2.08
-40.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
$41.31 €36.18
-71.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$4.09 €3.58
-23.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$0.81 €0.71
28.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
$17.23 €15.09
-18.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$1.97 €1.73
-33.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$34.4K €30.1K
-19.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$39.8K €34.8K
-16.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Silves
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,118
$134 €117
-8.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$20.97 €18.36
-35.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$42.81 €37.50
-56.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Silves
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
$44.35 €38.84
36.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$8.69 €7.61
4.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Silves
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$481 €421
47.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
$8,283 €7,254
90.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Silves
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
$74.8 €65.5
-21.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$38.99 €34.14
-9.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$89.5 €78.4
28.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$99.9 €87.5
-16.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Silves
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
$916 €802
-31.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$721 €631
-38.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
$1,488 €1,303
37.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$1,149 €1,006
29.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
$3,502 €3,067
-0.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$2,069 €1,812
24.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Silves
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$973 €852
-48.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.01
6.39%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Silves: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $916 in Silves. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Silves pays 95% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $46.00 in Silves. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $243, with Silves 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 Silves: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Silves cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Silves?
On paper, salaries run 95% lower in Silves. 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 Silves?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $916 in Silves. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $481 in Silves. 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 Silves?
Shoppers in Silves pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Silves?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,586 in Silves, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Silves. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Silves more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Silves, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Silves?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Silves 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 – expenses run 27% less than in Silves. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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