Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tatuรญ Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tatuรญ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $776 in Tatuรญ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,245 in Tatuรญ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,714 in Tatuรญ.

Living in Phuket is roughly 62% more expensive than Tatuรญ, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Tatuรญ 42% lower.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Tatuรญ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 เธฟ149
$5.50 R$27.85
-17.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 เธฟ1,519
$27.55 R$139
69.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 เธฟ276
$6.48 R$32.82
30.71%
Cappuccino
$3.03 เธฟ98.6
$1.74 R$8.81
74.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 เธฟ22.45
$1.11 R$5.63
-37.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 เธฟ11.92
$0.66 R$3.33
-43.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 เธฟ81.0
$1.76 R$8.93
41.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 เธฟ119
$2.75 R$13.94
33.09%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tatuรญ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 เธฟ71.0
$0.93 R$4.73
134.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 เธฟ62.0
$1.49 R$7.55
27.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 เธฟ71.6
$1.14 R$5.76
92.98%
Eggs
$2.22 เธฟ72.4
$1.96 R$9.92
13.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 เธฟ651
$8.11 R$41.08
146.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 เธฟ119
$3.54 R$17.94
3.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 เธฟ432
$7.16 R$36.26
85.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 เธฟ105
$2.07 R$10.50
56.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 เธฟ55.3
$1.25 R$6.32
36.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 เธฟ78.0
$1.19 R$6.02
100.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 เธฟ67.7
$1.51 R$7.62
37.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 เธฟ51.8
$1.20 R$6.05
32.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 เธฟ48.31
$1.11 R$5.60
33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 เธฟ33.54
$0.75 R$3.78
37.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 เธฟ16.83
$0.67 R$3.40
-22.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 เธฟ138
$2.16 R$10.93
96.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 เธฟ612
$7.49 R$37.91
150.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 เธฟ57.2
$1.22 R$6.17
44.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 เธฟ89.8
$1.99 R$10.08
38.69%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Phuket
Tatuรญ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 เธฟ44.32
$0.94 R$4.78
44.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 เธฟ370
$37.19 R$188
-69.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 เธฟ102
$1.40 R$7.08
124.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 เธฟ33.74
$0.76 R$3.82
36.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 เธฟ448
$6.31 R$31.93
118.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 เธฟ43.79
$0.93 R$4.69
44.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K เธฟ901.4K
$28.7K R$145.2K
-3.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K เธฟ1.1M
$27.9K R$141.0K
21.56%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tatuรญ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 เธฟ4,025
$61.3 R$310
101.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 เธฟ440
$13.30 R$67.3
1.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 เธฟ609
$18.99 R$96.1
-1.58%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tatuรญ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 เธฟ2,013
$22.50 R$114
174.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 เธฟ562
$22.00 R$111
-21.59%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 เธฟ298
$6.18 R$31.29
47.90%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tatuรญ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 เธฟ22.9K
$268 R$1,358
162.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K เธฟ517.0K
$6,387 R$32.3K
148.51%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tatuรญ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 เธฟ1,937
$48.53 R$246
22.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 เธฟ1,142
$41.40 R$210
-15.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 เธฟ3,754
$75.3 R$381
53.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 เธฟ2,737
$64.5 R$326
30.35%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tatuรญ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 เธฟ20.1K
$319 R$1,616
93.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 เธฟ14.1K
$219 R$1,106
97.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 เธฟ67.2K
$594 R$3,007
247.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 เธฟ49.2K
$434 R$2,195
248.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 เธฟ118.7K
$1,524 R$7,715
139.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 เธฟ85.5K
$1,141 R$5,774
130.20%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tatuรญ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 เธฟ16.5K
$417 R$2,113
21.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
10.92
-51.19%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tatuรญ: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $319 in Tatuรญ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 21% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $28.00 in Tatuรญ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $172 per month, with Tatuรญ 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 Tatuรญ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tatuรญ cheaper than Phuket?
Tatuรญ is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tatuรญ?
Phuket pays 21% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Tatuรญ?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $319 in Tatuรญ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $268 in Tatuรญ. 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 Tatuรญ?
Supermarket bills run roughly 70% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Tatuรญ?
At $776 in Tatuรญ versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tatuรญ but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tatuรญ the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tatuรญ more family-friendly?
For families, Tatuรญ 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 Tatuรญ?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tatuรญ 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 Tatuรญ gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 62% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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