Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Springs Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Springs

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,030 in Springs.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,624 in Springs.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $2,218 in Springs.

Living in Phuket is roughly 23% more expensive than in Springs, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Springs 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Springs
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$9.31 R 151
-49.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,066
$37.59 R 608
-14.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$5.19 R 84.0
67.24%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.9
$2.39 R 38.67
21.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.91
$0.94 R 15.16
-10.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.17
$0.72 R 11.60
-31.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.1
$1.90 R 30.70
30.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$2.17 R 35.09
71.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Springs
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$1.26 R 20.33
50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.58
$1.00 R 16.26
41.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$1.91 R 30.97
-15.18%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$2.61 R 42.16
-14.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$8.27 R 134
139.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$5.10 R 82.6
-31.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$7.39 R 120
53.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.9
$1.30 R 21.00
123.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$1.02 R 16.47
68.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.2
$1.21 R 19.63
87.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.5
$1.20 R 19.37
77.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.77
$1.15 R 18.68
27.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.96
$1.19 R 19.24
19.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.29
$1.16 R 18.80
-5.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.78
$0.96 R 15.51
-37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$3.28 R 53.1
31.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$4.01 R 64.9
363.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.6
$1.21 R 19.51
48.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.1
$1.80 R 29.09
65.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Springs
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.3
$1.43 R 23.18
57.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿777
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿103
$0.30 R 4.82
933.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.59
$0.79 R 12.79
36.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$15.27 R 247
-74.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.20
$1.48 R 23.88
-3.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.9K
$37.5K R 607.3K
-25.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿892.4K
$34.9K R 563.9K
-22.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Springs
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,466
$159 R 2,565
-33.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿377
$38.47 R 622
-70.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$36.80 R 595
-52.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Springs
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,797
$34.00 R 550
59.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$7.38 R 119
5.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Springs
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.1K
$92.2 R 1,492
524.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿383.0K
$5,754 R 93.1K
101.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Springs
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,104
$54.6 R 884
16.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿962
$33.76 R 546
-13.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,182
$94.7 R 1,532
1.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,977
$87.0 R 1,408
3.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Springs
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$293 R 4,737
150.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.6K
$284 R 4,589
76.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.3K
$754 R 12.2K
181.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$732 R 11.8K
71.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.9K
$888 R 14.4K
297.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.7K
$705 R 11.4K
271.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Springs
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$1,208 R 19.5K
-57.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
10.75
-48.19%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Springs: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $293 in Springs. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Springs pays 138% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $38.00 in Springs. Groceries flip the comparison at $275 vs $176, with Springs cheaper for home cooking.

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 Springs: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Springs cheaper than Phuket?
Springs is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Springs?
On paper, salaries run 138% lower in Springs. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Springs?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $293 in Springs. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $92.2 in Springs. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Springs?
Dining out is cheaper in Springs – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Springs?
At $1,030 in Springs versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Springs but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Springs the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Springs more family-friendly?
For families, Springs 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 Springs?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Springs 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 Springs gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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