Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Varamin Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Varamin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $557 in Varamin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $874 in Varamin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,190 in Varamin.

Living in Phuket is roughly 120% more expensive than Varamin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Varamin 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Varamin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51 ฿147
$4.08 $4.08
10.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62 ฿1,515
$17.93 $17.93
160.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.49 ฿276
$4.91 $4.91
72.91%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.64 $0.64
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.02 $1.02
-
Cappuccino
$3.08 ฿100
$1.26 $1.26
144.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.07
$0.43 $0.43
58.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.75
$1.04 $1.04
-65.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿78.8
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿118
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Varamin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ฿71.1
$0.60 $0.60
265.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿59.0
$0.53 $0.53
241.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ฿72.5
$1.88 $1.88
18.62%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿72.7
$1.16 $1.16
93.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.60 ฿637
$3.55 $3.55
452.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 ฿121
$3.29 $3.29
13.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.47 ฿438
$10.95 $10.95
23.01%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 ฿109
$0.91 $0.91
269.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿52.5
$1.42 $1.42
14.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.3
$0.88 $0.88
173.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿64.6
$0.66 $0.66
201.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.76
$0.51 $0.51
200.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ฿47.19
$0.50 $0.50
190.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿32.96
$0.63 $0.63
60.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.73
$0.23 $0.23
108.70%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.58 $0.58
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.60 $0.60
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.56 $1.56
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿139
$2.56 $2.56
66.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.12 ฿621
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿59.7
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ฿89.1
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Varamin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿46.06
$0.20 $0.20
610.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.72 ฿381
$10.06 $10.06
16.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 ฿97.6
$0.52 $0.52
476.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 ฿34.00
$0.29 $0.29
262.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.90 ฿452
$3.06 $3.06
354.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ฿41.94
$0.72 $0.72
79.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ฿911.1K
$79.4K $79.4K
-64.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K ฿1.1M
$53.9K $53.9K
-37.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Varamin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,964
$15.68 $15.68
677.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿453
$2.25 $2.25
519.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87 ฿613
$5.91 $5.91
219.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Varamin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 ฿1,992
$16.04 $16.04
282.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿547
$12.47 $12.47
35.04%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿289
$1.53 $1.53
481.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Varamin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$691 ฿22.5K
$129 $129
437.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K ฿525.2K
$1,978 $1,978
716.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Varamin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,878
$31.77 $31.77
81.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39 ฿1,150
$34.26 $34.26
3.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,685
$122 $122
-7.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0 ฿2,698
$69.5 $69.5
19.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Varamin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 ฿19.7K
$288 $288
110.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.6K
$197 $197
127.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 ฿66.0K
$637 $637
218.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 ฿48.5K
$317 $317
370.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,585 ฿116.5K
$1,225 $1,225
192.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,585 ฿84.0K
$536 $536
382.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Varamin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
25.07
-78.74%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Varamin: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $288 in Varamin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $18.00 in Varamin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $111 per month, with Varamin 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 Varamin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Varamin cheaper than Phuket?
Varamin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 120% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,835 in Phuket and $836 in Varamin 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 Varamin?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $288 in Varamin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $129 in Varamin. 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 Varamin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 163% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Varamin?
At $557 in Varamin versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Varamin but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Varamin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Varamin more family-friendly?
For families, Varamin 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 Varamin?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Varamin 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 Varamin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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