Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and SuranCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Suran
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $518 in Suran.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $802 in Suran.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,085 in Suran.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 141% more expensive than in Suran, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Suran61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Suran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$6.18SYP 750
-26.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,554
$27.23SYP 3,309
69.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿298
$5.65SYP 687
56.46%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$1.54SYP 187
98.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.42
$1.13SYP 137
-35.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.40
$0.72SYP 88.0
-44.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$1.58SYP 192
53.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$2.48SYP 301
52.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Suran
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.02SYP 124
121.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$0.59SYP 71.4
206.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.67SYP 203
34.73%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.6
$1.86SYP 226
20.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$3.17SYP 385
515.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$7.73SYP 939
-52.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$11.39SYP 1,384
14.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$0.92SYP 112
251.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.75SYP 212
-7.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.2
$1.03SYP 125
131.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.2
$0.88SYP 106
130.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$0.61SYP 74.2
150.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$0.63SYP 76.3
138.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.93
$0.37SYP 45.04
164.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.40
$0.62SYP 74.8
-16.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$2.92SYP 355
52.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$8.03SYP 976
128.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.02SYP 124
82.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.2
$1.78SYP 216
50.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Suran
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.49
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿394
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$1.02SYP 124
204.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.08
$1.22SYP 148
-14.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿475
$6.35SYP 772
122.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.13
$3.73SYP 454
-64.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿936.0K
$18.5KSYP 2.2M
50.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$21.3KSYP 2.6M
56.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Suran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,120
$100SYP 12.2K
22.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$8.23SYP 1,001
65.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$54.3SYP 6,603
-65.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Suran
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,035
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿572
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$2.97SYP 361
205.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Suran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$43.20SYP 5,250
1535.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.8K
$1,832SYP 222.6K
762.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Suran
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,970
$29.84SYP 3,626
96.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,190
$25.66SYP 3,118
37.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,885
$45.44SYP 5,522
154.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,818
$55.6SYP 6,759
50.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Suran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Suran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
13.75
-61.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Suran: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Suran for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $173 per month, with Suran 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 Suran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suran cheaper than Phuket?
Suran is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 141% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,875 in Phuket and $778 in Suran to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $43.20 in Suran. 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 Suran?
Dining out is cheaper in Suran – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $46.00 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 Suran?
At $518 in Suran versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Suran but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Suran the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Suran more family-friendly?
For families, Suran 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 Suran?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Suran 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 Suran gentler on the wallet – expenses run 141% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.