Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Vieux Fort Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Vieux Fort

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,034 in Vieux Fort.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,757 in Vieux Fort.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,480 in Vieux Fort.

Living in Phuket is roughly 22% more expensive than Vieux Fort, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Vieux Fort 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Vieux Fort
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$8.66 EC$23.38
-45.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$93.9 EC$253
-51.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$7.63 EC$20.59
10.48%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$2.57 EC$6.95
14.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$1.23 EC$3.31
-69.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.81 EC$4.88
33.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$2.61 EC$7.06
42.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Vieux Fort
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$1.20 EC$3.24
52.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$2.49 EC$6.71
-12.85%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$3.39 EC$9.16
-34.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$7.47 EC$20.18
164.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$12.12 EC$32.73
-70.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$21.63 EC$58.4
-37.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$6.63 EC$17.90
-50.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$3.33 EC$9.00
-51.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$4.91 EC$13.26
-50.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$8.33 EC$22.50
-75.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$6.40 EC$17.28
-76.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$3.29 EC$8.88
-55.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$1.80 EC$4.87
-45.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.95 EC$2.56
-46.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$7.54 EC$20.36
-41.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$3.12 EC$8.42
-42.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$3.01 EC$8.12
-9.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Vieux Fort
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$1.49 EC$4.03
-8.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Vieux Fort
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Vieux Fort
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$54.9 EC$148
9.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$36.34 EC$98.1
-52.83%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$10.26 EC$27.70
-15.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Vieux Fort
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Vieux Fort
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$55.4 EC$150
7.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$110 EC$296
4.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$72.4 EC$196
15.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Vieux Fort
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$561 EC$1,516
9.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$351 EC$948
24.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$1,112 EC$3,001
88.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$442 EC$1,194
241.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Vieux Fort
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Vieux Fort: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $561 in Vieux Fort. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $94.0 in Vieux Fort for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $364 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 Vieux Fort: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vieux Fort cheaper than Phuket?
Vieux Fort is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $1,551 in Vieux Fort 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 Vieux Fort?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $561 in Vieux Fort. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Vieux Fort?
Shoppers in Phuket pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Vieux Fort?
Dining out is cheaper in Vieux Fort – a meal for two runs $94.0 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Vieux Fort?
At $1,034 in Vieux Fort versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Vieux Fort but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Vieux Fort the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Vieux Fort more family-friendly?
For families, Vieux Fort 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 Vieux Fort?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Vieux Fort 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 Vieux Fort gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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