Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sin el Fil Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sin el Fil

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,017 in Sin el Fil.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,592 in Sin el Fil.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,168 in Sin el Fil.

Living in Phuket is roughly 21% more expensive than in Sin el Fil, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Sin el Fil 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sin el Fil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$12.12 LBP 1.1M
-63.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,073
$64.0 LBP 5.7M
-49.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$9.97 LBP 892.7K
-10.43%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.3
$4.57 LBP 408.6K
-36.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.29
$2.40 LBP 214.7K
-63.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.01
$0.81 LBP 72.7K
-40.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.2
$5.14 LBP 460.3K
-54.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$5.06 LBP 452.7K
-26.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sin el Fil
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.1
$1.96 LBP 175.4K
-4.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.78
$0.88 LBP 79.1K
67.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$2.24 LBP 200.8K
-30.80%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿69.9
$3.67 LBP 328.2K
-42.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿652
$13.53 LBP 1.2M
44.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$10.76 LBP 963.1K
-68.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿379
$14.22 LBP 1.3M
-19.97%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.3
$3.15 LBP 282.1K
-5.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.63 LBP 146.0K
3.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.5
$1.63 LBP 146.1K
35.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿71.9
$1.48 LBP 132.5K
45.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$1.35 LBP 121.1K
12.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.52
$1.68 LBP 150.4K
-20.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.55
$1.18 LBP 105.2K
-4.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.18
$0.74 LBP 66.2K
-25.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$2.96 LBP 265.0K
43.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿635
$9.98 LBP 893.0K
91.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.2
$1.32 LBP 118.5K
34.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.6
$2.55 LBP 228.2K
9.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sin el Fil
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.2
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿756
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$5.08 LBP 454.6K
-40.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.04
$2.26 LBP 202.6K
-54.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿129
$22.38 LBP 2.0M
-82.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.60
$1.04 LBP 92.9K
43.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿884.4K
$54.3K LBP 4.9B
-51.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿899.3K
$32.7K LBP 2.9B
-17.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sin el Fil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,409
$232 LBP 20.8M
-55.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿377
$23.10 LBP 2.1M
-50.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿579
$38.31 LBP 3.4M
-54.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sin el Fil
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,733
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿256
$9.86 LBP 882.9K
-22.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sin el Fil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$687 LBP 61.5M
-18.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿382.8K
$10.8K LBP 967.6M
6.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sin el Fil
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,097
$68.8 LBP 6.2M
-8.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿982
$48.68 LBP 4.4M
-39.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,261
$137 LBP 12.2M
-28.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,944
$121 LBP 10.8M
-26.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sin el Fil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sin el Fil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11
-49.36%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Sin el Fil: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $64.0 in Sin el Fil for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $281 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 Sin el Fil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sin el Fil cheaper than Phuket?
Sin el Fil is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $1,525 in Sin el Fil 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $687 in Sin el Fil. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Sin el Fil?
Dining out is cheaper in Sin el Fil – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Sin el Fil?
At $1,017 in Sin el Fil versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sin el Fil but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sin el Fil the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sin el Fil more family-friendly?
For families, Sin el Fil 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 Sin el Fil?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sin el Fil 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 Sin el Fil gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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