Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Squamish, BC

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $2,634 in Squamish, BC, rent and utilities included – about $17,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Squamish, BC
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,634
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Squamish, BC

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Squamish, BC actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $2,634 in Squamish, BC.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Squamish, BC $2,634

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $3,904 in Squamish, BC.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Squamish, BC $3,904

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $5,175 in Squamish, BC.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Squamish, BC $5,175

Living in Phuket costs roughly 54% less than in Squamish, BC, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 11% below, Squamish, BC is 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Squamish, BC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿154
$16.19 CA$23.02
-71.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,090
$48.77 CA$69.3
-33.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿287
$10.01 CA$14.23
-14.59%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.3
$3.94 CA$5.60
-30.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.37
$1.79 CA$2.54
-47.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.46
$1.47 CA$2.09
-66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.9
$5.57 CA$7.92
-53.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿129
$5.63 CA$8.00
-31.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Squamish, BC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.3
$1.76 CA$2.50
-1.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿48.01
$2.10 CA$2.99
-31.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.2
$3.46 CA$4.92
-55.78%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿73.0
$3.08 CA$4.39
-29.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿642
$12.38 CA$17.60
54.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$14.93 CA$21.23
-77.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿374
$19.16 CA$27.24
-41.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.9
$5.31 CA$7.55
-44.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.3
$1.16 CA$1.65
44.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿77.1
$4.90 CA$6.97
-53.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.6
$3.47 CA$4.93
-38.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.3
$4.16 CA$5.91
-63.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.73
$2.47 CA$3.51
-44.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.59
$2.46 CA$3.49
-54.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.31
$1.86 CA$2.65
-70.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿143
$14.86 CA$21.12
-71.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿610
$10.58 CA$15.04
71.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.4
$2.83 CA$4.03
-38.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.7
$3.52 CA$5.01
-20.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Squamish, BC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.3
$1.43 CA$2.03
55.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿740
$29.87 CA$42.46
-26.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.7
$3.60 CA$5.12
-19.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.93
$1.38 CA$1.96
-26.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$24.89 CA$35.38
-84.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿50.0
$1.13 CA$1.61
31.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.1K
$26.2K CA$37.2K
2.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿896.1K
$18.6K CA$26.4K
43.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Squamish, BC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,334
$116 CA$166
-14.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿379
$42.93 CA$61.0
-73.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿582
$62.6 CA$89.0
-72.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Squamish, BC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,754
$51.0 CA$72.6
2.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿364
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿254
$11.42 CA$16.24
-33.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Squamish, BC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$1,084 CA$1,541
-48.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿385.4K
$8,273 CA$11.8K
38.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Squamish, BC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,110
$51.5 CA$73.2
22.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿959
$40.42 CA$57.5
-29.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,226
$79.3 CA$113
21.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,954
$94.9 CA$135
-7.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Squamish, BC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.5K
$1,565 CA$2,225
-53.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$1,517 CA$2,157
-69.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.3K
$3,188 CA$4,532
-34.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿41.0K
$2,719 CA$3,865
-55.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿116.0K
$5,931 CA$8,433
-41.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Squamish, BC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$3,077 CA$4,376
-83.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.72
18.01%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Squamish, BC: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Squamish, BC
$1.5K 230% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Squamish, BC
$396 48.1% $129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Squamish, BC
$222 73.4% $94
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Squamish, BC
$120 3.5% $4.3
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Squamish, BC
$259 114% $138
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Squamish, BC
$74 9.6% $6.5
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Squamish, BC
$46 18.5% $7.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $1,565 in Squamish, BC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Squamish, BC pays 524% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $49.00 in Squamish, BC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $396 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇦 Squamish, BC
🕒 Local time
09:23 9:23 AM
19:23 7:23 PM
14 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
19,512
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 33.55 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 15, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Squamish, BC 12,460 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Squamish, BC

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Squamish, BC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Squamish, BC cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 118% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Squamish, BC?
On paper, salaries run 524% lower in Squamish, BC. 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 Squamish, BC?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $1,565 in Squamish, BC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $558 in Phuket versus $1,084 in Squamish, BC. 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 Squamish, BC?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Squamish, BC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Squamish, BC?
At $1,207 in Phuket versus $2,634 in Squamish, BC, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Squamish, BC. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Squamish, BC more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Squamish, BC, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Squamish, BC?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Squamish, BC 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 – expenses run 118% less than in Squamish, BC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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