Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and VichyCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Vichy
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,541 in Vichy.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,305 in Vichy.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,069 in Vichy.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 18% less than in Vichy, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Vichy is 15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Vichy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$7.90€6.80
-40.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$55.8€48.03
-18.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$7.47€6.43
12.85%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$2.86€2.46
2.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$2.58€2.22
-73.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$1.77€1.52
-79.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$5.80€4.99
-58.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$6.89€5.93
-46.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Vichy
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$0.99€0.85
125.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$1.66€1.43
10.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$1.84€1.58
17.93%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$2.13€1.83
3.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$23.38€20.12
-15.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$5.68€4.89
-36.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$7.57€6.51
78.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.29€1.11
154.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.99€1.71
-19.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.89€2.49
-16.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$2.09€1.80
-0.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$1.47€1.27
4.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$1.12€0.96
32.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.18€1.01
-16.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.37€0.32
37.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$11.42€9.83
-61.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$3.66€3.15
429.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$3.55€3.06
-49.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$2.66€2.29
1.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Vichy
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$1.47€1.26
-6.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$35.05€30.18
-67.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$3.15€2.72
-4.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$2.04€1.75
-51.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$33.84€29.13
-58.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$2.07€1.78
-34.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$38.2K€32.9K
-26.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$38.6K€33.2K
-14.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Vichy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$218€188
-44.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$23.17€19.95
-41.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$34.19€29.43
-46.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Vichy
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$37.48€32.26
60.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$18.10€15.58
-5.30%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$9.09€7.82
-4.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Vichy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$746€642
-7.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$8,086€6,961
94.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Vichy
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$63.1€54.3
-5.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$28.84€24.82
20.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$63.5€54.6
80.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$48.69€41.91
71.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Vichy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$1,040€896
-41.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$616€530
-29.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$1,404€1,209
49.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$1,106€952
36.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$4,177€3,596
-10.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$3,204€2,758
-18.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Vichy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$1,710€1,472
-70.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.68
44.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Vichy: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $1,040 in Vichy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Vichy pays 237% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $56.0 in Vichy. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $250, with Vichy 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 Vichy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vichy cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Vichy?
On paper, Vichy earns 237% 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 Vichy?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $1,040 in Vichy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $746 in Vichy. 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 Vichy?
Shoppers in Vichy pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Vichy?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,541 in Vichy, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Vichy. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Vichy more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Vichy, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Vichy?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Vichy 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 22% less than in Vichy. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.