😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $574 in Svay Rieng.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $908 in Svay Rieng.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,242 in Svay Rieng.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 118% more expensive than in Svay Rieng, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Svay Rieng57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Svay Rieng
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$2.03៛8,189
124.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$30.33៛122.3K
52.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$6.82៛27.5K
29.62%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$0.77៛3,116
297.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$0.48៛1,939
52.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$0.26៛1,055
53.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$1.52៛6,144
59.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$2.47៛9,949
53.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Svay Rieng
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$2.13៛8,595
6.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.47៛5,924
23.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.02៛4,115
120.59%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$1.75៛7,049
28.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$12.77៛51.5K
52.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$4.04៛16.3K
-9.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$10.19៛41.1K
28.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$4.53៛18.3K
-28.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.61៛6,496
0.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$3.80៛15.3K
-37.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$1.48៛5,956
37.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.71៛6,879
-10.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.24៛5,004
20.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$1.39៛5,595
-29.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.67៛2,699
-22.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$2.02៛8,139
119.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$10.89៛43.9K
68.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.05៛4,234
77.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$1.69៛6,795
58.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Svay Rieng
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$1.06៛4,279
193.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$1.02៛4,099
1.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$4.57៛18.4K
208.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.18៛4,742
11.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$49.8K៛200.7M
-44.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$37.4K៛150.7M
-11.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Svay Rieng
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$108៛434.4K
13.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$6.31៛25.4K
115.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$22.95៛92.5K
-18.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Svay Rieng
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$25.27៛101.9K
139.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$4.40៛17.7K
106.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Svay Rieng
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$378៛1.5M
86.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$11.5K៛46.5M
37.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Svay Rieng
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$22.42៛90.4K
161.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$22.56៛90.9K
56.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$89.8៛362.0K
28.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$74.9៛301.7K
11.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Svay Rieng
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Svay Rieng
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
10.3
-48.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Svay Rieng: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $30.00 in Svay Rieng for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $243 per month, with Svay Rieng 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 Svay Rieng: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Svay Rieng cheaper than Phuket?
Svay Rieng is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 118% 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 $862 in Svay Rieng 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 $378 in Svay Rieng. 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 Svay Rieng?
Dining out is cheaper in Svay Rieng – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Svay Rieng?
At $574 in Svay Rieng versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Svay Rieng but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Svay Rieng the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Svay Rieng more family-friendly?
For families, Svay Rieng 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 Svay Rieng?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Svay Rieng 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 Svay Rieng gentler on the wallet – expenses run 118% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.