ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $1,846 in Soustons.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $2,904 in Soustons.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $3,961 in Soustons.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 31% less than in Soustons, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 5% below, Soustons is 38% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Soustons
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ150
$17.24âŽ14.71
-72.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,496
$68.3âŽ58.2
-31.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ280
$12.65âŽ10.79
-31.38%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.0
$3.51âŽ3.00
-15.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.52
$2.66âŽ2.27
-73.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.70
$1.68âŽ1.44
-76.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ81.6
$7.91âŽ6.75
-68.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$5.89âŽ5.03
-35.82%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Soustons
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.5
$1.30âŽ1.11
70.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ57.8
$0.60âŽ0.51
200.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.4
$2.50âŽ2.13
-12.40%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.5
$3.16âŽ2.70
-26.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ623
$24.98âŽ21.31
-22.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ121
$14.27âŽ12.17
-73.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ426
$18.14âŽ15.48
-27.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ107
$3.21âŽ2.74
3.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.1
$2.96âŽ2.52
-44.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ73.7
$3.32âŽ2.83
-31.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.1
$3.44âŽ2.94
-42.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.24
$2.35âŽ2.00
-34.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ48.77
$2.87âŽ2.45
-47.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.12
$1.41âŽ1.20
-26.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.57
$0.89âŽ0.76
-42.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ142
$14.70âŽ12.54
-70.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ625
$7.11âŽ6.06
173.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.0
$3.87âŽ3.30
-53.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.4
$3.04âŽ2.60
-11.84%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Soustons
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.11
$1.94âŽ1.66
-26.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ377
$49.00âŽ41.80
-76.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ97.9
$3.03âŽ2.58
0.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.37
$1.37âŽ1.17
-24.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ441
$41.46âŽ35.37
-67.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.85
$2.06âŽ1.76
-36.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ898.9K
$37.7KâŽ32.2K
-26.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$39.7KâŽ33.8K
-16.68%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Soustons
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,962
$189âŽ161
-34.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ445
$22.52âŽ19.21
-38.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ608
$36.22âŽ30.90
-47.93%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Soustons
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,970
$38.33âŽ32.70
59.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ541
$18.09âŽ15.43
-7.08%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ286
$14.04âŽ11.98
-36.82%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Soustons
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.4K
$872âŽ743
-20.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ517.4K
$18.8KâŽ16.1K
-14.72%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Soustons
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,910
$122âŽ104
-51.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,123
$49.16âŽ41.93
-29.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,646
$125âŽ107
-9.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,740
$163âŽ139
-47.82%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Soustons
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.8K
$772âŽ658
-20.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.4K
$606âŽ517
-25.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.2K
$1,367âŽ1,166
52.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.2K
$1,067âŽ910
40.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ120.3K
$4,858âŽ4,144
-23.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ85.8K
$3,424âŽ2,921
-22.26%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Soustons
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.71
43.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Soustons: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $772 in Soustons. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $46 in Phuket vs $68 in Soustons for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $375 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 Soustons: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Soustons cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,904 in Phuket and $2,769 in Soustons 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 Soustons?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $772 in Soustons. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $696 in Phuket versus $872 in Soustons. 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 Soustons?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Soustons. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Soustons?
At $1,270 in Phuket versus $1,846 in Soustons, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Soustons. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Soustons more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Soustons, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Soustons?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Soustons 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 45% less than in Soustons. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.