Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sucre Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sucre

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $814 in Sucre.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,219 in Sucre.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,623 in Sucre.

Living in Phuket is roughly 55% more expensive than Sucre, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Sucre 39% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sucre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$1.77 BOB 12.16
157.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$14.62 BOB 100
218.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$5.95 BOB 40.78
42.35%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$2.40 BOB 16.41
26.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$0.62 BOB 4.23
11.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$0.60 BOB 4.14
-38.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$1.44 BOB 9.89
72.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.24 BOB 15.32
63.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sucre
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$0.84 BOB 5.76
159.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$1.41 BOB 9.64
34.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.25 BOB 8.55
76.00%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$1.76 BOB 12.07
26.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$4.43 BOB 30.32
351.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$3.04 BOB 20.82
20.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$4.32 BOB 29.56
206.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$1.82 BOB 12.44
77.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$0.82 BOB 5.63
107.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$0.71 BOB 4.86
236.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$2.94 BOB 20.16
-29.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$0.41 BOB 2.81
287.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$0.69 BOB 4.71
114.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$0.30 BOB 2.06
243.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$1.00 BOB 6.82
-48.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$1.92 BOB 13.15
121.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$10.12 BOB 69.3
85.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$1.71 BOB 11.74
2.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sucre
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$0.30 BOB 2.07
353.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$23.36 BOB 160
-51.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$0.69 BOB 4.70
355.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$1.01 BOB 6.95
32.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$14.5K BOB 99.3K
90.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$17.3K BOB 118.2K
96.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sucre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$13.91 BOB 95.3
788.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$20.82 BOB 143
-35.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$26.04 BOB 178
-28.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sucre
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$22.96 BOB 157
169.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$11.57 BOB 79.3
49.09%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$6.59 BOB 45.17
38.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sucre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sucre
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$35.50 BOB 243
67.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$71.9 BOB 493
60.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$65.6 BOB 450
28.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sucre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$650 BOB 4,451
-4.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$380 BOB 2,603
13.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$1,039 BOB 7,117
98.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$687 BOB 4,705
120.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$882 BOB 6,045
313.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$567 BOB 3,881
363.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sucre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
$317 BOB 2,174
59.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Sucre: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $650 in Sucre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 60% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $15.00 in Sucre for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $152 per month, with Sucre 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 Sucre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sucre cheaper than Phuket?
Sucre is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sucre?
Phuket pays 60% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Sucre?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $650 in Sucre. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Sucre?
Dining out is cheaper in Sucre – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Sucre runs roughly 106% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Sucre?
At $814 in Sucre versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sucre but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sucre the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sucre more family-friendly?
For families, Sucre 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 Sucre?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sucre 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 Sucre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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