Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sousse Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sousse

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $710 in Sousse.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,145 in Sousse.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,580 in Sousse.

Living in Phuket is roughly 78% more expensive than Sousse, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Sousse 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$3.84 TND 11.10
22.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$23.99 TND 69.3
89.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$5.18 TND 14.97
62.74%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$0.96 TND 2.78
205.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$0.70 TND 2.04
-1.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.29 TND 0.83
27.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.17 TND 3.38
105.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$1.60 TND 4.62
132.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$0.50 TND 1.45
346.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$0.18 TND 0.52
916.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.32 TND 3.83
64.39%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$1.74 TND 5.03
27.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$11.93 TND 34.49
65.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$5.57 TND 16.09
-34.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$13.79 TND 39.85
-1.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.56 TND 4.52
110.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$3.20 TND 9.24
-49.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$0.92 TND 2.66
161.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$0.63 TND 1.81
230.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$0.65 TND 1.88
135.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$0.64 TND 1.84
131.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.44 TND 1.27
125.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.32 TND 0.93
59.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$3.52 TND 10.18
25.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$5.16 TND 14.92
275.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.19 TND 3.44
49.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$1.08 TND 3.13
150.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.30 TND 0.88
356.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$10.08 TND 29.12
13.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$0.32 TND 0.92
843.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$0.48 TND 1.40
106.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$5.95 TND 17.19
136.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$0.88 TND 2.54
54.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$47.1K TND 136.0K
-40.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$35.6K TND 102.7K
-7.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$65.4 TND 189
86.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$11.03 TND 31.89
23.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$18.56 TND 53.6
-1.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$27.23 TND 78.7
121.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$26.80 TND 77.4
-36.04%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$6.61 TND 19.11
31.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$105 TND 304
558.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$3,235 TND 9,349
384.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$41.75 TND 121
42.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$60.2 TND 174
-42.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$150 TND 432
-23.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$81.7 TND 236
1.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$244 TND 704
151.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$167 TND 482
161.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$437 TND 1,263
379.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$324 TND 938
365.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$1,001 TND 2,893
274.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$648 TND 1,872
303.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$393 TND 1,136
29.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
12
-55.58%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sousse: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $244 in Sousse. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 29% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $24.00 in Sousse for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $185 per month, with Sousse 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 Sousse: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sousse cheaper than Phuket?
Sousse is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sousse?
Phuket pays 29% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Sousse?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $244 in Sousse. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $105 in Sousse. 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 Sousse?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Sousse?
At $710 in Sousse versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sousse but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sousse the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sousse more family-friendly?
For families, Sousse 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 Sousse?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sousse 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 Sousse gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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