ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,166 in Sint-Truiden.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $3,161 in Sint-Truiden.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $4,156 in Sint-Truiden.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 43% less than in Sint-Truiden, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Sint-Truiden is 62% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Sint-Truiden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$23.47âŽ20.09
-80.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$93.0âŽ79.6
-49.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$13.02âŽ11.15
-32.10%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$3.85âŽ3.30
-22.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$3.85âŽ3.30
-80.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$2.97âŽ2.54
-87.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$5.08âŽ4.35
-51.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$6.36âŽ5.44
-43.24%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sint-Truiden
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.14âŽ0.97
98.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.82âŽ1.55
1.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.98âŽ2.55
-24.83%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.72âŽ3.18
-37.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$13.85âŽ11.86
42.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$14.07âŽ12.05
-74.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$21.25âŽ18.19
-38.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$3.11âŽ2.67
9.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.61âŽ2.24
-37.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.59âŽ2.22
-6.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$4.03âŽ3.45
-49.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.36âŽ2.02
-33.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.61âŽ1.38
-6.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.92âŽ0.79
10.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.84âŽ0.72
-41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$10.21âŽ8.74
-56.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$8.29âŽ7.09
127.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.79âŽ1.53
-0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.26âŽ1.93
21.68%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Sint-Truiden
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$2.90âŽ2.49
-51.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$56.4âŽ48.29
-79.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$5.66âŽ4.85
-44.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$2.52âŽ2.16
-60.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$37.18âŽ31.83
-62.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.84âŽ1.58
-26.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$34.7KâŽ29.7K
-21.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$39.1KâŽ33.5K
-15.87%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sint-Truiden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$279âŽ239
-55.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$21.04âŽ18.01
-35.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$86.6âŽ74.2
-78.62%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sint-Truiden
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$40.16âŽ34.37
53.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$16.75âŽ14.34
0.54%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$14.02âŽ12.00
-34.45%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sint-Truiden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$510âŽ437
36.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$13.3KâŽ11.4K
17.47%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sint-Truiden
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$71.9âŽ61.6
-19.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$39.44âŽ33.76
-10.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$106âŽ91.0
6.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$134âŽ115
-35.49%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sint-Truiden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$841âŽ720
-26.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$761âŽ651
-41.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,177âŽ1,008
73.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,005âŽ860
48.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$3,572âŽ3,057
5.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,498âŽ2,138
6.03%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sint-Truiden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$2,122âŽ1,816
-75.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
2
166.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Sint-Truiden: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $841 in Sint-Truiden. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Sint-Truiden pays 305% 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 $93.0 in Sint-Truiden for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $348 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 Sint-Truiden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sint-Truiden cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 76% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sint-Truiden?
On paper, Sint-Truiden earns 305% 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 Sint-Truiden?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $841 in Sint-Truiden. 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 $510 in Sint-Truiden. 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 Sint-Truiden?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Sint-Truiden. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Sint-Truiden?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,166 in Sint-Truiden, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Sint-Truiden. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sint-Truiden more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sint-Truiden, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Sint-Truiden?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sint-Truiden 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 76% less than in Sint-Truiden. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.