Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Thun

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $3,388 in Thun, rent and utilities included – about $26,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Thun
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,388
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Thun

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $3,388 in Thun.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Thun $3,388

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $5,170 in Thun.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Thun $5,170

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $6,952 in Thun.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Thun $6,952

Living in Phuket costs roughly 64% less than in Thun, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 11% below, Thun is 151% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Thun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$28.31 CHF 23.32
-83.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$122 CHF 100
-73.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$15.51 CHF 12.77
-44.87%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$6.45 CHF 5.31
-57.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$6.28 CHF 5.17
-85.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$5.88 CHF 4.84
-91.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$8.85 CHF 7.29
-70.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$7.67 CHF 6.32
-50.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Thun
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$2.13 CHF 1.76
-18.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$2.99 CHF 2.46
-52.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$3.13 CHF 2.58
-51.12%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$7.60 CHF 6.26
-71.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$23.82 CHF 19.62
-19.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$26.88 CHF 22.14
-87.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$39.26 CHF 32.34
-71.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$3.55 CHF 2.92
-16.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.96 CHF 1.61
-14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$2.65 CHF 2.18
-13.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$4.73 CHF 3.90
-54.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$1.56 CHF 1.28
-1.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$2.00 CHF 1.65
-32.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$2.19 CHF 1.80
-48.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$1.28 CHF 1.05
-57.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$11.25 CHF 9.26
-62.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$12.09 CHF 9.96
50.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$2.26 CHF 1.86
-23.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$2.92 CHF 2.41
-4.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Thun
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$4.49 CHF 3.70
-50.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
$100 CHF 82.6
-77.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$8.04 CHF 6.62
-63.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$4.53 CHF 3.73
-77.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$82.9 CHF 68.3
-95.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$2.38 CHF 1.96
-37.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$42.5K CHF 35.0K
-37.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$39.4K CHF 32.5K
-32.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Thun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$289 CHF 238
-65.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$46.36 CHF 38.18
-75.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$62.8 CHF 51.7
-72.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Thun
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$89.8 CHF 74.0
-41.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
$46.01 CHF 37.89
-76.42%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$23.22 CHF 19.12
-67.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Thun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$3,058 CHF 2,519
-81.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$30.5K CHF 25.1K
-62.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Thun
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$144 CHF 119
-56.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$78.8 CHF 64.9
-63.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$159 CHF 131
-39.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$192 CHF 158
-54.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Thun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$1,685 CHF 1,388
-56.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$1,432 CHF 1,180
-67.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$2,842 CHF 2,341
-26.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$2,457 CHF 2,023
-50.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$16.2K CHF 13.4K
-78.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$11.8K CHF 9,721
-78.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Thun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$5,785 CHF 4,765
-91.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
2.42
130.17%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Thun: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Thun
$1.4K 211% $972
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Thun
$556 108% $288
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Thun
$398 211% $270
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Thun
$258 108% $134
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Thun
$459 278% $337
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Thun
$136 102% $69
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Thun
$149 283% $110

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $1,685 in Thun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Thun pays 1073% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $122 in Thun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $556 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇭 Thun
🕒 Local time
15:32 3:32 PM
10:32 10:32 AM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
43,905
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.824 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.926 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Thun 9,430 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Thun

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 Thun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thun cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 181% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Thun?
On paper, salaries run 1073% lower in Thun. 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 Thun?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $1,685 in Thun. 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 $3,058 in Thun. 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 Thun?
Supermarket bills run roughly 108% higher in Thun. 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 Thun?
At $1,207 in Phuket versus $3,388 in Thun, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Thun. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Thun more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Thun, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Thun?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Thun 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 181% less than in Thun. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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