🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,319 in Tripolis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $2,033 in Tripolis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,747 in Tripolis.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 4% less than in Tripolis, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Tripolis2% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$15.13€13.04
-69.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$57.9€49.92
-19.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$10.02€8.63
-15.47%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$4.01€3.46
-24.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$2.83€2.44
-75.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.56€0.48
-33.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$5.19€4.47
-52.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$5.17€4.45
-29.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$1.57€1.35
38.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$1.46€1.26
30.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$2.48€2.14
-11.29%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$5.37€4.63
-58.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$13.60€11.71
46.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$9.57€8.25
-61.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$13.13€11.31
0.91%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$2.23€1.92
44.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$1.87€1.61
-9.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$1.48€1.28
61.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$2.04€1.76
1.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$1.26€1.09
26.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$1.20€1.03
23.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$0.98€0.84
5.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.80€0.69
-35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$5.31€4.57
-19.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$7.12€6.14
163.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$2.06€1.78
-14.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$4.08€3.52
-32.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$1.59€1.37
-14.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$45.66€39.34
-75.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$4.65€4.01
-32.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$13.58€11.70
1.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$2.12€1.83
-36.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$31.9K€27.4K
-13.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$26.1K€22.4K
29.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$212€182
-41.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$23.51€20.26
-42.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$34.83€30.01
-46.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$44.01€37.92
40.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$26.56€22.88
-35.05%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$9.22€7.94
-0.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$429€369
63.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$6,075€5,234
161.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$88.3€76.1
-32.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$38.76€33.40
-9.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$89.2€76.9
29.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$109€93.6
-22.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$384€331
61.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$275€237
57.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$656€565
214.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$466€401
224.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$3,082€2,655
18.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
$2,531€2,181
3.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tripolis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$1,194€1,028
-57.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.43
20.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Tripolis: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $384 in Tripolis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tripolis pays 135% 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 $58.0 in Tripolis. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $281, 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 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tripolis?
On paper, Tripolis earns 135% 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: $619 in Phuket versus $384 in Tripolis. 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 $429 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 4% 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 $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,319 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 – expenses run 5% less than in Tripolis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.