🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,260 in Viljandi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $1,995 in Viljandi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $2,729 in Viljandi.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 3% less than in Viljandi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Viljandi5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$16.02€13.79
-71.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$87.5€75.4
-46.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$11.52€9.92
-26.30%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$4.23€3.64
-27.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$2.83€2.43
-75.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$2.58€2.22
-86.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$6.24€5.37
-61.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$6.81€5.86
-46.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$1.31€1.13
67.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$1.43€1.23
26.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$2.98€2.57
-25.17%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$2.95€2.54
-24.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$13.37€11.52
46.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$9.73€8.38
-61.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
$23.16€19.94
-41.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$2.27€1.95
48.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$1.55€1.33
4.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$2.70€2.33
-10.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$3.69€3.17
-46.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$1.42€1.22
7.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$0.93€0.80
55.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$2.04€1.75
-50.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$1.09€0.93
-55.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$6.55€5.64
-34.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$10.72€9.23
78.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$1.97€1.70
-6.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$2.58€2.22
6.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$4.24€3.65
-29.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$0.87€0.75
20.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$17.08€14.71
-18.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$1.96€1.68
-34.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$31.8K€27.4K
-11.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$34.1K€29.4K
-1.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$342€294
-64.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$20.47€17.63
-31.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$35.33€30.42
-46.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
$34.79€29.96
76.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$14.15€12.19
-37.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$258€222
168.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$7,733€6,659
108.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$111€95.8
-48.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$47.15€40.60
-24.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$106€91.0
7.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$144€124
-42.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.1
4.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Viljandi: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $88.0 in Viljandi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $323 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 Viljandi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Viljandi cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 3% 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 $1,890 in Viljandi 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $258 in Viljandi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Viljandi?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $88.0 in Viljandi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Viljandi?
At $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,260 in Viljandi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Viljandi. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Viljandi more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Viljandi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Viljandi?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Viljandi 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 3% less than in Viljandi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.