Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tamási

For one person, living is cheaper in Tamási: $1,141 a month against $1,207 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $790 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Tamási
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,141
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Tamási

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $1,141 in Tamási.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Tamási $1,141

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $1,778 in Tamási.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Tamási $1,778

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $2,415 in Tamási.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Tamási $2,415

Living in Phuket is roughly 6% more expensive than in Tamási, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Tamási 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tamási
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$9.29 Ft 3,012
-50.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,088
$57.7 Ft 18.7K
-43.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$9.42 Ft 3,054
-9.24%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.2
$2.38 Ft 770
14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.32
$1.52 Ft 494
-38.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.43
$1.31 Ft 425
-62.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.8
$2.26 Ft 731
14.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$2.26 Ft 734
69.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tamási
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$1.04 Ft 339
67.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.92
$1.36 Ft 441
5.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$1.20 Ft 388
27.50%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.8
$2.14 Ft 693
1.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿641
$10.11 Ft 3,277
89.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$5.85 Ft 1,897
-43.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿373
$12.19 Ft 3,952
-8.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.7
$1.50 Ft 486
96.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$1.56 Ft 505
7.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿77.0
$1.80 Ft 584
27.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.4
$2.94 Ft 953
-27.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.2
$1.01 Ft 329
51.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.64
$1.10 Ft 357
23.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.52
$1.50 Ft 486
-25.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.28
$0.50 Ft 163
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿143
$6.59 Ft 2,135
-35.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿609
$4.02 Ft 1,303
352.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.3
$1.15 Ft 373
51.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.5
$1.49 Ft 484
87.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tamási
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.2
$1.21 Ft 391
83.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿739
$26.82 Ft 8,692
-17.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.5
$2.99 Ft 969
-2.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.87
$1.71 Ft 554
-40.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$18.52 Ft 6,002
-79.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.95
$1.90 Ft 614
-21.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿893.5K
$30.0K Ft 9.7M
-11.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿894.5K
$38.4K Ft 12.5M
-30.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tamási
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,328
$121 Ft 39.2K
-17.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿378
$21.64 Ft 7,014
-47.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿581
$16.31 Ft 5,286
6.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tamási
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,751
$46.93 Ft 15.2K
11.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿363
$17.64 Ft 5,718
-38.49%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$7.74 Ft 2,507
-2.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tamási
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$248 Ft 80.4K
125.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.7K
$6,681 Ft 2.2M
71.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tamási
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,106
$87.8 Ft 28.5K
-28.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿957
$33.15 Ft 10.7K
-13.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,220
$72.4 Ft 23.5K
32.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,949
$59.7 Ft 19.3K
47.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tamási
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$524 Ft 170.0K
39.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$398 Ft 128.9K
15.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.2K
$745 Ft 241.4K
181.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.9K
$658 Ft 213.4K
85.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.8K
$2,812 Ft 911.4K
23.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.4K
$2,822 Ft 914.7K
-11.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tamási
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$1,210 Ft 392.0K
-59.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.67
-16.49%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Tamási: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Tamási
$398 13.6% $62
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Tamási
$206 22.9% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Tamási
$159 24.2% $31
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Tamási
$114 8.2% $10
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Tamási
$158 30.5% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Tamási
$62 7.4% $5
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Tamási
$43 11% $4.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $524 in Tamási. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tamási pays 145% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $58.0 in Tamási. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $206, with Tamási cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇭🇺 Tamási
🕒 Local time
00:59 12:59 AM
19:59 7:59 PM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
8,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 33.49 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 324 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.09 USD). 1 EUR = 364 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Tamási 8,620 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Tamási

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 Tamási: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tamási cheaper than Phuket?
Tamási is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tamási?
On paper, salaries run 145% lower in Tamási. 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 Tamási?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $524 in Tamási. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $558 in Phuket versus $248 in Tamási. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Tamási?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Tamási?
At $1,141 in Tamási versus $1,207 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tamási but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tamási the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tamási more family-friendly?
For families, Tamási 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 Tamási?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tamási 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 Tamási gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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