Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and TulkarmCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tulkarm
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $638 in Tulkarm.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $882 in Tulkarm.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $1,126 in Tulkarm.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 98% more expensive than in Tulkarm, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Tulkarm54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tulkarm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿154
$5.67₪17.18
-17.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,065
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿287
$7.86₪23.83
10.43%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.8
$2.32₪7.02
25.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.89
$0.69₪2.08
21.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.16
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.0
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tulkarm
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.3
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.54
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.6
-
-
Eggs
$2.24฿74.1
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿656
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿376
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.8
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.0
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.1
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.4
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.72
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.92
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.25
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.76
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿615
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.5
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.0
-
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🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tulkarm
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.2
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿776
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.56
$1.70₪5.14
-36.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿128
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.16
$2.34₪7.09
-38.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿918.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿891.5K
-
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🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tulkarm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,462
$178₪539
-41.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿376
$25.36₪76.8
-55.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿580
$39.84₪121
-55.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tulkarm
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,795
$39.91₪121
36.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿378
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-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿257
-
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tulkarm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$101₪306
470.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿382.7K
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-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tulkarm
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,103
$32.14₪97.4
98.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿961
$40.65₪123
-28.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,179
$49.29₪149
95.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,974
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tulkarm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.2K
$251₪760
192.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
$183₪556
173.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.2K
$606₪1,836
250.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.4K
$441₪1,336
184.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tulkarm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.8K
$836₪2,532
-39.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
4.5
23.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Tulkarm: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $251 in Tulkarm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tulkarm pays 65% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
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 Tulkarm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tulkarm cheaper than Phuket?
Tulkarm is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 98% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tulkarm?
On paper, salaries run 65% lower in Tulkarm. 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 Tulkarm?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $251 in Tulkarm. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $101 in Tulkarm. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Tulkarm?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $638 in Tulkarm – a 98% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Tulkarm?
At $638 in Tulkarm versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tulkarm but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tulkarm the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tulkarm more family-friendly?
For families, Tulkarm 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 Tulkarm?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tulkarm 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 Tulkarm gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.