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: $1,253 in Phuket versus $791 in Sousse.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $1,259 in Sousse.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $1,728 in Sousse.

Living in Phuket is roughly 58% more expensive than in Sousse, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 9% lower, Sousse 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿150
$4.69 TND 13.56
-2.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62 ฿1,073
$24.29 TND 70.3
34.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 ฿293
$6.19 TND 17.90
43.78%
Cappuccino
$2.80 ฿92.2
$1.06 TND 3.07
164.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿28.94
$0.77 TND 2.23
14.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.08
$0.36 TND 1.05
36.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 ฿78.5
$1.74 TND 5.03
37.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿122
$1.70 TND 4.90
118.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ฿58.8
$0.48 TND 1.40
272.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿47.40
$0.15 TND 0.43
860.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 ฿52.1
$1.30 TND 3.76
21.54%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿69.9
$1.64 TND 4.75
29.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.92 ฿655
$14.02 TND 40.54
42.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 ฿113
$5.80 TND 16.77
-40.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.33 ฿372
$14.39 TND 41.61
-21.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿97.0
$1.92 TND 5.55
53.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿56.6
$3.84 TND 11.09
-55.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 ฿76.5
$1.08 TND 3.13
114.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.4
$0.78 TND 2.24
166.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.34
$0.89 TND 2.57
65.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿44.65
$0.75 TND 2.17
81.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.13
$0.43 TND 1.25
155.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ฿18.89
$0.33 TND 0.96
72.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿140
$3.73 TND 10.78
14.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.42 ฿606
$5.17 TND 14.96
256.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 ฿61.5
$0.99 TND 2.88
88.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ฿96.1
$1.19 TND 3.44
145.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿73.0
$0.35 TND 1.02
534.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.90 ฿753
$10.17 TND 29.42
125.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿99.6
$0.31 TND 0.91
877.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 ฿35.32
$0.66 TND 1.91
62.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.93 ฿129
$4.03 TND 11.64
-2.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.06
$0.85 TND 2.45
75.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K ฿892.0K
$40.2K TND 116.4K
-32.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ฿902.6K
$37.7K TND 109.0K
-27.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 ฿3,380
$77.2 TND 223
33.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99 ฿361
$12.94 TND 37.43
-15.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51 ฿576
$17.80 TND 51.5
-1.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 ฿1,760
$29.44 TND 85.1
81.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20 ฿368
$27.74 TND 80.2
-59.63%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48 ฿246
$6.65 TND 19.22
12.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$557 ฿18.3K
$98.3 TND 284
466.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ฿389.7K
$3,033 TND 8,773
290.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 ฿2,107
$46.89 TND 136
36.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07 ฿956
$66.3 TND 192
-56.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,155
$154 TND 446
-37.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ฿2,970
$107 TND 310
-15.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 ฿24.0K
$247 TND 713
196.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 ฿16.4K
$167 TND 484
198.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 ฿68.7K
$535 TND 1,546
291.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 ฿39.8K
$349 TND 1,010
246.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,596 ฿118.2K
$997 TND 2,883
260.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,512 ฿82.6K
$641 TND 1,853
292.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿16.6K
$398 TND 1,151
26.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
12
-53.58%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sousse: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $247 in Sousse. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 27% 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: $33.00 in Phuket vs $24.00 in Sousse for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $201 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, Getting Around. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sousse?
Average pay runs 27% higher in Phuket, 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: $730 in Phuket versus $247 in Sousse. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $557 in Phuket versus $98.3 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 in Sousse?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Sousse?
At $791 in Sousse versus $1,253 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 58% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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