Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Viljandi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Viljandi
Monthly Cost of Living
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,252 in Viljandi.
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,986 in Viljandi.
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,720 in Viljandi.
Living in Phuket costs roughly 2% less than in Viljandi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Viljandi 7% lower.
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 āļŋ151
$15.97 âŽ13.67
-71.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 āļŋ1,532
$87.6 âŽ74.9
-46.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 āļŋ289
$11.54 âŽ9.88
-23.40%
Cappuccino
$3.00 āļŋ98.0
$4.27 âŽ3.66
-29.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 āļŋ24.25
$2.87 âŽ2.46
-74.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 āļŋ11.95
$2.57 âŽ2.20
-85.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 āļŋ79.8
$6.55 âŽ5.61
-62.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 āļŋ118
$6.46 âŽ5.53
-44.12%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 āļŋ73.9
$1.25 âŽ1.07
80.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 āļŋ60.1
$1.48 âŽ1.26
24.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 āļŋ73.4
$2.99 âŽ2.56
-25.08%
Eggs
$2.32 āļŋ75.7
$2.95 âŽ2.53
-21.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 āļŋ643
$13.42 âŽ11.49
46.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 āļŋ119
$9.65 âŽ8.26
-62.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 āļŋ428
$23.59 âŽ20.19
-44.47%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 āļŋ111
$2.22 âŽ1.90
52.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 āļŋ53.7
$1.58 âŽ1.35
3.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 āļŋ79.0
$2.69 âŽ2.30
-10.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 āļŋ66.4
$3.86 âŽ3.31
-47.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 āļŋ50.9
$1.36 âŽ1.16
14.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 āļŋ48.94
$0.93 âŽ0.79
61.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 āļŋ33.50
$2.00 âŽ1.71
-49.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 āļŋ16.00
$1.09 âŽ0.93
-55.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 āļŋ145
$6.53 âŽ5.59
-31.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 āļŋ617
$11.72 âŽ10.03
61.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 āļŋ58.1
$2.00 âŽ1.72
-11.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 āļŋ90.1
$2.48 âŽ2.12
10.89%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 āļŋ45.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 āļŋ102
$4.25 âŽ3.64
-26.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 āļŋ32.67
$0.80 âŽ0.69
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 āļŋ461
$17.21 âŽ14.73
-18.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 āļŋ44.19
$1.91 âŽ1.64
-29.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K āļŋ888.9K
$31.7K âŽ27.1K
-14.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K āļŋ1.1M
$33.6K âŽ28.7K
-1.90%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 āļŋ4,087
$351 âŽ300
-64.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 āļŋ444
$20.63 âŽ17.66
-34.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 āļŋ606
$35.48 âŽ30.37
-47.80%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 āļŋ2,010
$35.06 âŽ30.01
75.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 āļŋ300
$14.02 âŽ12.00
-34.45%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 āļŋ22.8K
$261 âŽ224
167.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K āļŋ509.9K
$7,936 âŽ6,793
96.48%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 āļŋ1,889
$115 âŽ98.2
-49.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 āļŋ1,152
$46.02 âŽ39.39
-23.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 āļŋ3,699
$105 âŽ90.0
7.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 āļŋ2,825
$143 âŽ123
-39.64%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 āļŋ20.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 āļŋ14.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 āļŋ67.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 āļŋ48.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 āļŋ123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 āļŋ86.6K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Viljandi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 āļŋ17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.1
4.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Viljandi: April 28, 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 $326 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 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $1,877 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 $698 in Phuket versus $261 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 â 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 $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,252 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 â expenses run 2% less than in Viljandi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared
Phuket
ðđð Thailand
$1,232
/mo nomad
Da Nang
ðŧðģ Vietnam
$707
/mo nomad
Phuket
ðđð Thailand
$1,232
/mo nomad
Nha Trang
ðŧðģ Vietnam
$758
/mo nomad
Phuket
ðđð Thailand
$1,232
/mo nomad
Koh Samui
ðđð Thailand
$1,242
/mo nomad
Phuket
ðđð Thailand
$1,232
/mo nomad
Pattaya
ðđð Thailand
$988
/mo nomad
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