Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sines Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sines

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,639 in Sines.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,444 in Sines.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $3,249 in Sines.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 24% less than in Sines, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Sines is 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sines
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$15.67 €13.72
-70.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$64.9 €56.8
-28.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$10.49 €9.19
-15.73%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$2.78 €2.44
10.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$2.30 €2.01
-68.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$1.50 €1.31
-73.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$3.44 €3.01
-29.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$3.98 €3.48
-5.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sines
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.09 €0.95
107.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$1.73 €1.52
4.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.69 €1.48
33.14%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$3.24 €2.84
-30.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$13.68 €11.98
42.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$8.01 €7.01
-54.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$16.04 €14.05
-18.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$2.37 €2.08
36.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.66 €1.46
-2.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$2.00 €1.75
19.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$2.51 €2.20
-19.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$1.83 €1.60
-16.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$2.04 €1.79
-26.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$1.13 €0.99
-13.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$0.79 €0.69
-34.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$6.60 €5.78
-32.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$6.13 €5.37
198.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$1.37 €1.20
35.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
$2.89 €2.53
-7.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sines
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
$2.29 €2.01
-38.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
$42.57 €37.28
-72.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$4.13 €3.62
-24.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$0.79 €0.70
31.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
$18.40 €16.12
-23.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$2.08 €1.82
-37.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$35.3K €30.9K
-21.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$38.5K €33.7K
-13.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sines
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,118
$148 €129
-17.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$20.92 €18.32
-35.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$39.40 €34.50
-52.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sines
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
$44.45 €38.93
36.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$9.24 €8.09
-1.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sines
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$607 €532
16.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
$16.5K €14.5K
-4.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sines
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
$28.87 €25.29
102.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$41.34 €36.20
-14.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$51.6 €45.19
123.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$122 €107
-31.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sines
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
$921 €807
-32.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$716 €627
-37.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
$1,472 €1,289
38.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$1,147 €1,005
30.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
$2,928 €2,564
18.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$2,070 €1,813
24.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sines
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$2,647 €2,318
-81.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
3.81
39.90%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sines: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $921 in Sines. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sines pays 430% 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 $65.0 in Sines. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $268, with Sines 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 Sines: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sines cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sines?
On paper, salaries run 430% lower in Sines. 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 Sines?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $921 in Sines. 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 $607 in Sines. 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 Sines?
Shoppers in Sines pay roughly 8% 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 Sines?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,639 in Sines, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Sines. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sines more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sines, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Sines?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sines 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 31% less than in Sines. 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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