Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Terrace Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Terrace

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,914 in Terrace.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,928 in Terrace.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,942 in Terrace.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 34% less than in Terrace, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Terrace is 43% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Terrace
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿154
$18.14 CA$25.20
-74.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,483
$83.3 CA$116
-45.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿276
$11.24 CA$15.61
-25.00%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.7
$3.85 CA$5.34
-23.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.42
$2.05 CA$2.85
-66.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.00
$1.69 CA$2.35
-78.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$4.37 CA$6.07
-44.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$5.86 CA$8.14
-36.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Terrace
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿73.0
$2.46 CA$3.42
-9.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.9
$2.73 CA$3.79
-32.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.9
$5.39 CA$7.49
-59.74%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.4
$3.98 CA$5.54
-44.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$9.06 CA$12.58
117.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$15.65 CA$21.74
-76.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$14.07 CA$19.55
-3.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$4.44 CA$6.17
-26.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.7
$1.28 CA$1.77
25.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$3.24 CA$4.50
-25.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$3.89 CA$5.41
-46.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.97
$3.45 CA$4.79
-55.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.41
$3.11 CA$4.33
-52.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.32
$2.57 CA$3.58
-61.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.68
$1.01 CA$1.40
-49.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$11.92 CA$16.56
-63.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿634
$13.87 CA$19.27
39.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$2.21 CA$3.07
-19.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.7
$1.87 CA$2.60
44.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Terrace
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.83
$1.50 CA$2.09
-8.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$32.71 CA$45.45
-65.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.7
$3.15 CA$4.38
-4.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.51
$1.49 CA$2.07
-33.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$25.92 CA$36.02
-45.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.55
$1.20 CA$1.66
13.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.9K
$28.5K CA$39.6K
-0.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$20.7K CA$28.7K
59.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Terrace
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,978
$96.6 CA$134
25.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$39.57 CA$55.0
-65.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿599
$62.2 CA$86.4
-70.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Terrace
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,969
$43.46 CA$60.4
38.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$9.37 CA$13.02
-7.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Terrace
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.7K
$745 CA$1,035
-6.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.8K
$11.6K CA$16.1K
35.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Terrace
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,946
$37.97 CA$52.8
56.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,137
$32.04 CA$44.52
8.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,746
$82.4 CA$114
39.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,723
$46.07 CA$64.0
80.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Terrace
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$1,047 CA$1,455
-41.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$858 CA$1,192
-49.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.5K
$1,693 CA$2,352
23.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$1,399 CA$1,944
7.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.6K
$4,481 CA$6,226
-16.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.5K
$3,682 CA$5,116
-28.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Terrace
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$3,246 CA$4,510
-84.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.22
2.11%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Terrace: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $1,047 in Terrace. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Terrace pays 539% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $83.0 in Terrace for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $381 per month, with Phuket 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 Terrace: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Terrace cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Terrace?
On paper, Terrace earns 539% 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 Terrace?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $1,047 in Terrace. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $745 in Terrace. 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 Terrace?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Terrace. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Terrace?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,914 in Terrace, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Terrace. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Terrace more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Terrace, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Terrace?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Terrace 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 51% less than in Terrace. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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