Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and St. Moritz Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and St. Moritz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $3,758 in St. Moritz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $6,619 in St. Moritz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $9,479 in St. Moritz.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 66% less than in St. Moritz, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, St. Moritz is 173% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
St. Moritz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$37.71 CHF 30.78
-87.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$147 CHF 120
-78.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$14.97 CHF 12.22
-42.02%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$6.34 CHF 5.18
-54.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$5.52 CHF 4.51
-84.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$4.57 CHF 3.73
-89.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$9.78 CHF 7.98
-74.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$6.33 CHF 5.16
-41.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
St. Moritz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$1.86 CHF 1.52
1.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$3.89 CHF 3.17
-63.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$3.84 CHF 3.13
-57.81%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$7.50 CHF 6.12
-70.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$27.52 CHF 22.46
-27.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$27.09 CHF 22.11
-87.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$62.2 CHF 50.8
-81.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$4.14 CHF 3.38
-29.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$2.88 CHF 2.35
-40.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$3.51 CHF 2.87
-35.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$4.85 CHF 3.96
-56.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$2.58 CHF 2.10
-43.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$2.18 CHF 1.78
-34.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$2.59 CHF 2.12
-57.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$1.27 CHF 1.04
-52.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$11.03 CHF 9.00
-60.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$13.32 CHF 10.87
39.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$2.85 CHF 2.32
-36.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$3.25 CHF 2.65
-8.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
St. Moritz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$3.85 CHF 3.15
-41.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
$95.6 CHF 78.0
-75.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$8.57 CHF 6.99
-63.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$4.82 CHF 3.93
-77.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$91.1 CHF 74.4
-95.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$2.25 CHF 1.84
-36.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$41.1K CHF 33.5K
-32.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$40.7K CHF 33.2K
-33.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
St. Moritz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$97.1 CHF 79.3
7.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$39.52 CHF 32.25
-71.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$58.2 CHF 47.46
-69.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
St. Moritz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$73.8 CHF 60.2
-26.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$19.30 CHF 15.75
-59.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
St. Moritz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$3,671 CHF 2,996
-84.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$43.2K CHF 35.2K
-73.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
St. Moritz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$148 CHF 121
-57.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$60.9 CHF 49.73
-52.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$171 CHF 140
-43.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$265 CHF 216
-65.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
St. Moritz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$1,874 CHF 1,529
-60.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$1,758 CHF 1,435
-71.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$5,636 CHF 4,599
-62.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$4,841 CHF 3,950
-74.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$12.6K CHF 10.3K
-79.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
St. Moritz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$4,853 CHF 3,961
-89.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
1.8
209.44%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for St. Moritz: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $1,874 in St. Moritz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

St. Moritz pays 856% 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 $147 in St. Moritz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $669 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 St. Moritz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. Moritz cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 197% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or St. Moritz?
On paper, salaries run 856% lower in St. Moritz. 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 St. Moritz?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $1,874 in St. Moritz. 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 $3,671 in St. Moritz. 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 St. Moritz?
Supermarket bills run roughly 143% higher in St. Moritz. 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 St. Moritz?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $3,758 in St. Moritz, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in St. Moritz. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or St. Moritz more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in St. Moritz, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or St. Moritz?
Safety-wise, Phuket and St. Moritz 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 197% less than in St. Moritz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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