Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and St John Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and St John

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $319 in St John.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $931 in St John.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,542 in St John.

Living in Phuket is roughly 286% more expensive than in St John, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, St John 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$19.87 $19.87

-77.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$177 $177

-81.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$6.91 $6.91

-58.03%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ฿29.38

$2.94 $2.94

-70.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$1.95 $1.95

-75.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$7.99 $7.99

-70.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$8.02 $8.02

-53.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$1.54 $1.54

-3.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K ฿887.3K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K ฿902.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$102 ฿3,420

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.33 ฿378

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$13.3K $13.3K

-13.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

$12.9K $12.9K

-71.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$5,032 $5,032

-90.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.05

-20.99%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for St John: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

St John pays 920% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $32.00 in Phuket vs $177 in St John for two.

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 St John: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

St John is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 286% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 920% lower in St John. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Dining out is cheaper in St John – a meal for two runs $177 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $319 in St John – a 286% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $319 in St John versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in St John but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes St John the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, St John 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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and St John are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find St John gentler on the wallet – expenses run 286% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.