ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,011 in Ta'xbiex.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $3,020 in Ta'xbiex.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $4,030 in Ta'xbiex.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 39% less than in Ta'xbiex, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Ta'xbiex is 50% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Ta'xbiex
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$19.81âŽ16.96
-76.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$68.9âŽ58.9
-31.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.58âŽ9.06
-16.45%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.30âŽ1.97
30.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.63âŽ2.25
-71.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$2.01âŽ1.72
-81.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$4.53âŽ3.87
-46.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$4.84âŽ4.14
-25.41%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ta'xbiex
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.35âŽ1.15
67.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.30âŽ1.12
41.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$3.41âŽ2.92
-34.31%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.68âŽ3.15
-36.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$9.69âŽ8.29
102.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$8.96âŽ7.67
-59.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$13.84âŽ11.85
-5.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$3.02âŽ2.58
12.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.96âŽ1.68
-16.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.77âŽ2.37
-13.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$3.34âŽ2.86
-39.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.79âŽ1.53
-12.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$2.94âŽ2.52
-48.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.91âŽ1.63
-46.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.86âŽ0.73
-43.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$6.40âŽ5.48
-30.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$6.07âŽ5.19
211.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.46âŽ1.25
21.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.85âŽ1.58
48.65%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Ta'xbiex
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$2.80âŽ2.39
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$4.52âŽ3.87
-30.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.96âŽ1.68
-48.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$34.92âŽ29.89
-59.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.56âŽ1.34
-13.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$25.9KâŽ22.2K
4.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$40.8KâŽ34.9K
-19.28%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ta'xbiex
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$170âŽ146
-26.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$30.28âŽ25.92
-55.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$32.93âŽ28.19
-43.76%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ta'xbiex
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$65.3âŽ55.9
-5.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$23.50âŽ20.11
-28.34%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$15.07âŽ12.90
-39.02%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ta'xbiex
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$266âŽ227
162.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$12.7KâŽ10.9K
22.99%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ta'xbiex
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$104âŽ89.1
-44.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$39.27âŽ33.61
-10.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$147âŽ126
-23.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$102âŽ87.4
-15.36%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ta'xbiex
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$1,146âŽ981
-46.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$921âŽ789
-51.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,957âŽ1,675
4.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,493âŽ1,278
-0.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$4,123âŽ3,529
-8.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,931âŽ2,509
-9.63%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ta'xbiex
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$3,009âŽ2,576
-82.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4
33.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ta'xbiex: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $1,146 in Ta'xbiex. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Ta'xbiex pays 474% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $69.0 in Ta'xbiex. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $277, with Ta'xbiex cheaper for home cooking.
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 Ta'xbiex: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ta'xbiex cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Ta'xbiex?
On paper, Ta'xbiex earns 474% less. 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 Ta'xbiex?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $1,146 in Ta'xbiex. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $266 in Ta'xbiex. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Ta'xbiex?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket â a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $69.0 in Ta'xbiex. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Ta'xbiex?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,011 in Ta'xbiex, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Ta'xbiex. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Ta'xbiex more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ta'xbiex, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Ta'xbiex?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Ta'xbiex 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 â expenses run 63% less than in Ta'xbiex. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.