ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,838 in Simbach am Inn.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,762 in Simbach am Inn.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $3,686 in Simbach am Inn.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 33% less than in Simbach am Inn, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Simbach am Inn is 37% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Simbach am Inn
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$14.53âŽ12.44
-68.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$57.5âŽ49.24
-18.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$11.47âŽ9.82
-22.93%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$4.39âŽ3.76
-31.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.91âŽ2.49
-74.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$2.61âŽ2.24
-85.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$4.68âŽ4.00
-47.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$4.78âŽ4.09
-24.48%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Simbach am Inn
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.25âŽ1.07
80.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.07âŽ1.77
-11.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$3.50âŽ3.00
-36.00%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$2.73âŽ2.33
-15.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$12.93âŽ11.07
52.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$9.75âŽ8.34
-62.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$20.29âŽ17.37
-35.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$3.25âŽ2.78
4.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.53âŽ1.31
7.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.49âŽ2.13
-3.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$5.02âŽ4.30
-59.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.76âŽ1.51
-11.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.76âŽ1.51
-14.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.87âŽ0.74
17.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.47âŽ0.40
4.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$10.17âŽ8.71
-56.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$6.28âŽ5.38
200.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.08âŽ0.92
64.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.78âŽ1.52
54.49%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Simbach am Inn
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$3.37âŽ2.88
-58.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$62.2âŽ53.2
-81.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$3.96âŽ3.39
-21.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$2.12âŽ1.81
-52.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$29.03âŽ24.85
-51.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.95âŽ1.67
-30.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$32.7KâŽ28.0K
-16.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$36.1KâŽ30.9K
-8.92%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Simbach am Inn
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$277âŽ237
-54.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$11.36âŽ9.72
19.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$40.44âŽ34.62
-54.20%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Simbach am Inn
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$39.50âŽ33.81
55.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$22.89âŽ19.59
-26.43%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$17.34âŽ14.84
-47.00%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Simbach am Inn
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$360âŽ308
93.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$11.7KâŽ9,980
33.73%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Simbach am Inn
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$77.3âŽ66.2
-25.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$48.70âŽ41.69
-27.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$73.5âŽ62.9
53.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$103âŽ88.3
-16.27%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Simbach am Inn
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$851âŽ728
-27.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$676âŽ579
-34.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,503âŽ1,287
36.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,231âŽ1,054
21.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$4,807âŽ4,114
-21.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$3,124âŽ2,674
-15.22%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Simbach am Inn
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$4,181âŽ3,579
-87.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.97
34.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Simbach am Inn: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $851 in Simbach am Inn. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Simbach am Inn pays 698% 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 $58.0 in Simbach am Inn for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $307 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 Simbach am Inn: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Simbach am Inn cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Simbach am Inn?
On paper, Simbach am Inn earns 698% 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 Simbach am Inn?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $851 in Simbach am Inn. 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 $360 in Simbach am Inn. 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 Simbach am Inn?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Simbach am Inn. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Simbach am Inn?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,838 in Simbach am Inn, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Simbach am Inn. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Simbach am Inn more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Simbach am Inn, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Simbach am Inn?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Simbach am Inn 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 49% less than in Simbach am Inn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.