๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,696 in ล kofja Loka.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $2,567 in ล kofja Loka.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $3,438 in ล kofja Loka.
๐Living in Phuket costs roughly 26% less than in ล kofja Loka, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, ล kofja Loka is 26% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
ล kofja Loka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56เธฟ149
$13.92โฌ11.99
-67.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63เธฟ1,519
$58.8โฌ50.7
-20.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47เธฟ276
$9.15โฌ7.88
-7.43%
Cappuccino
$3.03เธฟ98.6
$2.64โฌ2.28
14.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69เธฟ22.45
$3.11โฌ2.68
-77.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37เธฟ11.92
$2.00โฌ1.72
-81.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49เธฟ81.0
$3.43โฌ2.95
-27.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66เธฟ119
$4.57โฌ3.94
-19.91%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
ล kofja Loka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18เธฟ71.0
$1.31โฌ1.13
66.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90เธฟ62.0
$1.67โฌ1.44
13.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20เธฟ71.6
$2.78โฌ2.40
-20.86%
Eggs
$2.22เธฟ72.4
$3.40โฌ2.93
-34.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99เธฟ651
$18.86โฌ16.25
5.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66เธฟ119
$10.22โฌ8.80
-64.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25เธฟ432
$15.72โฌ13.55
-15.71%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23เธฟ105
$2.01โฌ1.73
60.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70เธฟ55.3
$1.71โฌ1.47
-0.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39เธฟ78.0
$2.23โฌ1.92
7.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08เธฟ67.7
$3.52โฌ3.03
-40.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59เธฟ51.8
$1.38โฌ1.19
15.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48เธฟ48.31
$1.61โฌ1.39
-8.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03เธฟ33.54
$1.66โฌ1.43
-37.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52เธฟ16.83
$1.00โฌ0.86
-48.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25เธฟ138
$5.90โฌ5.09
-27.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79เธฟ612
$6.81โฌ5.87
175.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76เธฟ57.2
$1.45โฌ1.25
21.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76เธฟ89.8
$2.00โฌ1.73
38.00%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
ล kofja Loka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36เธฟ44.32
$1.44โฌ1.24
-5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36เธฟ370
$32.00โฌ27.57
-64.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14เธฟ102
$1.77โฌ1.53
77.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04เธฟ33.74
$1.11โฌ0.96
-6.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77เธฟ448
$19.70โฌ16.97
-30.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34เธฟ43.79
$1.66โฌ1.43
-19.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7Kเธฟ901.4K
$25.6Kโฌ22.1K
7.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9Kเธฟ1.1M
$29.0Kโฌ25.0K
16.76%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
ล kofja Loka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124เธฟ4,025
$287โฌ247
-56.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52เธฟ440
$14.68โฌ12.65
-7.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69เธฟ609
$38.26โฌ32.97
-51.15%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
ล kofja Loka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8เธฟ2,013
$50.8โฌ43.79
21.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25เธฟ562
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14เธฟ298
$8.30โฌ7.15
10.12%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
ล kofja Loka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703เธฟ22.9K
$514โฌ443
36.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kเธฟ517.0K
$8,589โฌ7,400
84.79%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
ล kofja Loka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5เธฟ1,937
$115โฌ99.4
-48.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07เธฟ1,142
$45.14โฌ38.89
-22.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115เธฟ3,754
$119โฌ103
-3.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1เธฟ2,737
$141โฌ121
-40.24%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
ล kofja Loka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619เธฟ20.1K
$675โฌ582
-8.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433เธฟ14.1K
$534โฌ460
-19.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062เธฟ67.2K
$1,132โฌ975
82.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511เธฟ49.2K
$946โฌ815
59.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646เธฟ118.7K
$3,251โฌ2,801
12.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626เธฟ85.5K
$3,706โฌ3,193
-29.15%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
ล kofja Loka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507เธฟ16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.65
46.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for ล kofja Loka: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $675 in ล kofja Loka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $59.0 in ล kofja Loka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 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 ล kofja Loka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is ล kofja Loka cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $2,543 in ล kofja Loka 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and ล kofja Loka?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $675 in ล kofja Loka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $514 in ล kofja Loka. 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 ล kofja Loka?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in ล kofja Loka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or ล kofja Loka?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,696 in ล kofja Loka, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in ล kofja Loka. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or ล kofja Loka more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in ล kofja Loka, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or ล kofja Loka?
Safety-wise, Phuket and ล kofja Loka 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 โ expenses run 34% less than in ล kofja Loka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.