🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,871 in Turnhout.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $2,679 in Turnhout.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,291 in Phuket versus $3,487 in Turnhout.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 33% less than in Turnhout, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Turnhout is 40% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Turnhout
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53฿153
$17.69€15.51
-74.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36฿1,563
$64.1€56.2
-27.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.65฿292
$11.40€10.00
-24.12%
Cappuccino
$3.09฿104
$3.77€3.30
-18.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.86
$2.94€2.58
-76.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.42
$2.53€2.22
-85.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42฿81.5
$3.40€2.98
-28.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81฿128
$3.60€3.16
5.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Turnhout
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿73.4
$0.94€0.82
131.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿61.3
$2.09€1.83
-12.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.4
$2.98€2.61
-26.85%
Eggs
$2.24฿75.4
$3.59€3.15
-37.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.93฿672
$12.02€10.54
65.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.64฿123
$10.33€9.05
-64.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿457
$17.02€14.92
-20.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29฿111
$2.66€2.34
23.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69฿56.8
$2.32€2.04
-27.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.7
$2.03€1.78
14.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.3
$2.56€2.24
-20.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60฿53.9
$2.22€1.95
-27.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49฿50.4
$1.64€1.44
-9.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿34.13
$1.07€0.94
-5.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.07
$1.23€1.08
-60.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿150
$7.49€6.57
-40.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.63฿628
$5.19€4.55
258.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿60.2
$1.35€1.18
32.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80฿94.3
$2.19€1.92
27.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Turnhout
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.84
$2.96€2.59
-52.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.33฿382
$56.9€49.85
-80.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09฿104
$6.19€5.43
-50.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.15
$2.65€2.32
-60.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.63฿459
$34.56€30.30
-60.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.18
$1.91€1.68
-31.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K฿919.6K
$30.3K€26.5K
-9.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$28.3K€24.8K
17.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Turnhout
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,152
$179€157
-31.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81฿465
$21.76€19.08
-36.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿624
$48.86€42.84
-62.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Turnhout
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.4฿2,035
$75.3€66.0
-19.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80฿566
$16.65€14.59
0.90%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿300
$13.66€11.98
-34.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Turnhout
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$687฿23.1K
$674€591
1.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿524.2K
$13.8K€12.1K
12.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Turnhout
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6฿1,943
$91.2€80.0
-36.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66฿1,168
$33.01€28.95
5.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,874
$68.2€59.8
68.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.9฿2,862
$114€100
-25.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Turnhout
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$618฿20.8K
$815€715
-24.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$443฿14.9K
$682€598
-35.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,047฿69.0K
$1,044€915
96.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,506฿50.8K
$897€787
67.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,568฿120.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,511฿84.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Turnhout
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.9K
$2,670€2,341
-81.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
2
166.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026
Last update for Turnhout: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $618 in Phuket and $815 in Turnhout. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Turnhout pays 431% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $64.0 in Turnhout for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $294 per month, with Phuket 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 Turnhout: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Turnhout cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Turnhout?
On paper, salaries run 431% lower in Turnhout. 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 Turnhout?
Rent for a central apartment: $618 in Phuket versus $815 in Turnhout. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $687 in Phuket versus $674 in Turnhout. 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 Turnhout?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Turnhout. 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 Turnhout?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,871 in Turnhout, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Turnhout. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Turnhout more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Turnhout, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Turnhout?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Turnhout 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 48% less than in Turnhout. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.