Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and TkibuliCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tkibuli
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $584 in Tkibuli.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $955 in Tkibuli.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,326 in Tkibuli.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 116% more expensive than Tkibuli, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Tkibuli57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tkibuli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$8.85₾23.43
-48.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$29.34₾77.7
58.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$7.35₾19.48
15.24%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$2.76₾7.30
9.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$0.84₾2.21
-17.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.41₾1.09
-9.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$1.45₾3.84
71.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.20₾5.83
66.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tkibuli
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$1.81₾4.80
20.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.55₾1.47
245.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$1.53₾4.04
43.79%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$1.82₾4.81
21.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$5.58₾14.78
258.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$5.27₾13.94
-30.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$8.90₾23.57
48.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$1.06₾2.82
204.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$1.43₾3.78
18.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$0.59₾1.56
305.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$1.67₾4.43
24.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.26₾0.69
511.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.24₾0.63
516.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$1.30₾3.44
-20.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.34₾0.89
52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$2.99₾7.93
42.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$3.40₾9.01
452.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$1.29₾3.43
36.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$1.93₾5.12
43.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tkibuli
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$1.13₾2.99
177.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.68₾1.81
52.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$3.00₾7.95
359.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.17₾3.11
14.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$14.8K₾39.1K
87.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$18.4K₾48.8K
83.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tkibuli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$75.4₾200
63.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$10.55₾27.94
28.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$17.20₾45.56
8.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tkibuli
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$5.44₾14.40
68.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tkibuli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$242₾641
190.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$2,877₾7,620
451.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tkibuli
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$86.8₾230
-31.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$41.04₾109
-14.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$119₾316
-3.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$106₾281
-20.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tkibuli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tkibuli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
12.17
-56.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Tkibuli: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $29.00 in Tkibuli for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $159 per month, with Tkibuli 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 Tkibuli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tkibuli cheaper than Phuket?
Tkibuli is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 116% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $877 in Tkibuli to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $242 in Tkibuli. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Tkibuli?
Dining out is cheaper in Tkibuli – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Tkibuli?
At $584 in Tkibuli versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tkibuli but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tkibuli the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tkibuli more family-friendly?
For families, Tkibuli 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 Tkibuli?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tkibuli 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 Tkibuli gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.