Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and SousseCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sousse
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $725 in Sousse.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,179 in Sousse.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,632 in Sousse.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 72% more expensive than in Sousse, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Sousse46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$4.01TND 11.74
13.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$23.39TND 68.4
97.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$5.17TND 15.11
70.99%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$0.89TND 2.61
243.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$0.67TND 1.95
8.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$0.31TND 0.91
29.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$1.16TND 3.38
109.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$1.56TND 4.57
142.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$0.49TND 1.44
361.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$0.17TND 0.49
964.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.32TND 3.86
70.45%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$1.69TND 4.94
33.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$12.23TND 35.77
59.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$5.60TND 16.38
-34.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$13.91TND 40.71
-6.18%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$1.58TND 4.62
104.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$3.22TND 9.41
-49.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$0.92TND 2.69
158.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$0.63TND 1.84
222.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$0.70TND 2.04
118.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$0.59TND 1.72
154.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$0.40TND 1.18
145.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.32TND 0.94
62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$3.54TND 10.36
25.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$5.04TND 14.74
263.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.18TND 3.46
57.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$1.06TND 3.10
152.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$0.31TND 0.90
354.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$10.06TND 29.43
16.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$0.32TND 0.93
871.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$0.49TND 1.43
112.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$6.00TND 17.57
135.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$0.82TND 2.40
59.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$47.0KTND 137.6K
-40.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$36.8KTND 107.6K
-9.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$63.7TND 186
92.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$11.06TND 32.38
22.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$18.22TND 53.3
2.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$26.64TND 77.9
127.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$27.09TND 79.3
-37.32%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$6.41TND 18.77
41.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$106TND 311
564.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$3,225TND 9,437
390.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$41.09TND 120
42.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$60.3TND 176
-41.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$153TND 449
-24.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$84.5TND 247
-0.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$240TND 703
160.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$164TND 480
171.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$435TND 1,272
369.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$322TND 942
363.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$1,006TND 2,944
246.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$633TND 1,853
306.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sousse
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$382TND 1,117
30.90%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Sousse: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $240 in Sousse. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 31% 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 $23.00 in Sousse for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $186 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 72% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sousse?
Average pay runs 31% 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: $626 in Phuket versus $240 in Sousse. 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 $106 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 56% 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 $725 in Sousse versus $1,250 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 72% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.