Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sutton

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,208 a month against $2,171 in Sutton, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Sutton
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
$2,171
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Sutton

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 Sutton actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,208 in Phuket versus $2,171 in Sutton.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Sutton $2,171

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Phuket versus $3,051 in Sutton.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Sutton $3,051

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Phuket versus $3,931 in Sutton.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Sutton $3,931

Living in Phuket costs roughly 44% less than in Sutton, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 11% below, Sutton is 60% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sutton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$26.79 £20.10
-83.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$94.8 £71.1
-65.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$10.83 £8.12
-19.11%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$4.97 £3.73
-43.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$2.84 £2.13
-68.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$2.22 £1.66
-78.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$8.74 £6.56
-70.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$6.71 £5.04
-42.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sutton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$1.90 £1.43
-8.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$1.68 £1.26
-12.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$2.45 £1.84
-38.37%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$3.78 £2.83
-42.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$11.40 £8.55
72.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$8.40 £6.30
-60.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$12.73 £9.55
-12.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$3.04 £2.28
-6.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$1.44 £1.08
18.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$2.88 £2.16
-23.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$3.14 £2.36
-34.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$1.57 £1.18
-7.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$1.40 £1.05
-1.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$0.99 £0.74
8.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$1.48 £1.11
-65.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$23.94 £17.96
-82.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$13.19 £9.90
40.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$2.20 £1.65
-19.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$3.06 £2.29
-6.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sutton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
$3.28 £2.46
-31.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$5.71 £4.28
-47.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$3.33 £2.50
-68.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$13.26 £9.94
-70.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$2.05 £1.54
-29.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$38.1K £28.6K
-30.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$41.2K £30.9K
-34.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sutton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$277 £208
-65.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$18.30 £13.73
-39.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$41.31 £30.99
-58.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sutton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$14.43 £10.83
-45.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sutton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$1,765 £1,324
-68.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$29.4K £22.0K
-60.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sutton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$75.2 £56.4
-14.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$54.0 £40.50
-46.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$116 £87.3
-18.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$107 £80.4
-17.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sutton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$1,520 £1,140
-51.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$928 £696
-50.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$2,647 £1,986
-20.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$1,148 £861
4.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$7,429 £5,573
-66.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sutton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
$4,370 £3,278
-88.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5
11.40%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Sutton: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Sutton
$928 101% $466
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Sutton
$299 11.3% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Sutton
$337 171% $212
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Sutton
$159 27.7% $34
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Sutton
$384 217% $263
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Sutton
$29 * 57.4% $39
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Sutton
$35 * 10.1% $4

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Phuket and $1,520 in Sutton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sutton pays 773% 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 $95.0 in Sutton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $299 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇬🇧 Sutton
🕒 Local time
04:54 4:54 AM
22:54 10:54 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
187,600
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

GBP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

British Pound exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 0.75 GBP (1 GBP = 1.33 USD). 1 EUR = 0.843 GBP (1 GBP = 1.19 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Sutton 9,910 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Sutton

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 Sutton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sutton cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sutton?
On paper, salaries run 773% lower in Sutton. 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 Sutton?
Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Phuket versus $1,520 in Sutton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $556 in Phuket versus $1,765 in Sutton. 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 Sutton?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $95.0 in Sutton. 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 Sutton?
At $1,208 in Phuket versus $2,171 in Sutton, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Sutton. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sutton more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sutton, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Sutton?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sutton 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 80% less than in Sutton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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