Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Turgi

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $3,503 in Turgi, rent and utilities included – about $26,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Turgi, Switzerland
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Turgi
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,503
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Turgi

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $3,503 in Turgi.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Turgi $3,503

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $5,319 in Turgi.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Turgi $5,319

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $7,135 in Turgi.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Turgi $7,135

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Turgi is 157% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Turgi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$29.97 CHF 24.86
-85.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$127 CHF 105
-74.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$18.47 CHF 15.32
-52.30%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$6.23 CHF 5.16
-54.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$6.28 CHF 5.21
-86.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$6.13 CHF 5.08
-92.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$9.26 CHF 7.68
-72.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$9.43 CHF 7.82
-60.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Turgi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$2.20 CHF 1.82
-24.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$3.14 CHF 2.60
-53.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$3.31 CHF 2.75
-54.68%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$8.20 CHF 6.80
-74.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$25.98 CHF 21.55
-26.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$27.63 CHF 22.92
-88.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$41.79 CHF 34.67
-73.89%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$3.56 CHF 2.95
-17.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$2.34 CHF 1.94
-27.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.90 CHF 2.41
-22.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$4.64 CHF 3.85
-55.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.69 CHF 1.41
-10.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$1.92 CHF 1.59
-28.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$2.29 CHF 1.90
-53.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$1.57 CHF 1.30
-66.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$11.48 CHF 9.52
-63.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$11.95 CHF 9.91
57.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$2.47 CHF 2.05
-26.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$3.03 CHF 2.51
-6.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Turgi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$4.23 CHF 3.51
-65.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$100 CHF 83.0
-43.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$8.01 CHF 6.64
-62.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$4.50 CHF 3.73
-77.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$86.2 CHF 71.5
-95.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$2.39 CHF 1.98
-38.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$38.8K CHF 32.2K
-30.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$38.9K CHF 32.3K
-31.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Turgi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$294 CHF 244
-67.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$46.28 CHF 38.39
-75.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$64.9 CHF 53.8
-74.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Turgi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$90.6 CHF 75.2
-25.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$46.26 CHF 38.38
-76.81%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$23.32 CHF 19.35
-67.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Turgi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$2,922 CHF 2,424
-83.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$33.1K CHF 27.4K
-65.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Turgi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$148 CHF 123
-57.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$80.5 CHF 66.8
-64.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$166 CHF 137
-43.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$201 CHF 167
-57.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Turgi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$1,741 CHF 1,444
-58.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$1,474 CHF 1,223
-66.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$2,916 CHF 2,419
-33.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$2,463 CHF 2,043
-41.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$16.5K CHF 13.7K
-74.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$12.4K CHF 10.3K
-75.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Turgi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
-
-
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 26, 2026

Last update for Turgi: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Turgi
$1.5K 200% $983
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Turgi
$587 120% $320
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Turgi
$405 226% $281
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Turgi
$268 120% $146
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Turgi
$485 298% $363
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Turgi
$137 66.9% $55
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Turgi
$147 109% $77

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $1,741 in Turgi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $127 in Turgi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $587 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇭 Turgi
🕒 Local time
05:06 5:06 AM
23:06 11:06 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
3,000
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CHF, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.83 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.924 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Turgi 9,370 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Turgi

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 Turgi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Turgi?
Phuket is about 64% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,917 in Phuket and $5,255 in Turgi 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Turgi?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $1,741 in Turgi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $2,922 in Turgi. 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 Turgi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 120% higher in Turgi. 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 Turgi?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $3,503 in Turgi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Turgi. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Turgi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Turgi?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Turgi are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Turgi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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