ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,332 in Tripolis.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,075 in Tripolis.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,818 in Tripolis.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 8% less than in Tripolis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Tripolis1% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$15.14âŽ12.96
-69.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$57.7âŽ49.40
-18.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$9.62âŽ8.23
-8.11%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$3.98âŽ3.40
-24.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.94âŽ2.51
-74.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.57âŽ0.49
-35.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$5.23âŽ4.47
-53.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$5.33âŽ4.56
-32.27%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.49âŽ1.28
51.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.42âŽ1.22
29.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.48âŽ2.12
-9.68%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$5.28âŽ4.52
-56.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$13.37âŽ11.45
47.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$9.61âŽ8.22
-62.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$13.23âŽ11.32
-0.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.17âŽ1.86
56.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.84âŽ1.58
-10.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.49âŽ1.28
61.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.03âŽ1.74
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.21âŽ1.03
28.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.19âŽ1.02
26.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.98âŽ0.84
4.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.81âŽ0.69
-39.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$5.34âŽ4.57
-16.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$9.17âŽ7.85
105.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$2.08âŽ1.78
-14.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$4.10âŽ3.51
-32.93%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.53âŽ1.31
-8.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$45.41âŽ38.87
-74.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$4.70âŽ4.02
-33.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$13.65âŽ11.68
3.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$2.13âŽ1.82
-36.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$30.7KâŽ26.3K
-11.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$26.3KâŽ22.5K
25.26%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$217âŽ186
-42.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$22.94âŽ19.64
-40.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$34.68âŽ29.69
-46.60%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$43.99âŽ37.66
39.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$26.13âŽ22.36
-35.55%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$9.36âŽ8.02
-1.82%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$433âŽ371
61.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$5,992âŽ5,129
160.23%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$88.9âŽ76.1
-35.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$39.24âŽ33.59
-10.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$88.4âŽ75.7
27.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$106âŽ90.5
-18.30%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$387âŽ331
59.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$274âŽ235
62.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$667âŽ571
206.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$464âŽ397
221.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$3,057âŽ2,617
23.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,585âŽ2,212
2.48%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$1,186âŽ1,016
-55.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.43
20.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Tripolis: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $387 in Tripolis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Tripolis pays 126% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $58.0 in Tripolis. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $283, with Tripolis cheaper for home cooking.
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 Tripolis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tripolis cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tripolis?
On paper, Tripolis earns 126% 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 Tripolis?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $387 in Tripolis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $433 in Tripolis. 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 Tripolis?
Shoppers in Tripolis pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Tripolis?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,332 in Tripolis, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Tripolis. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tripolis more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tripolis, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Tripolis?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tripolis 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 â expenses run 8% less than in Tripolis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.