ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Phuket versus $2,131 in Villeurbanne.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $3,001 in Villeurbanne.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,306 in Phuket versus $3,870 in Villeurbanne.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 42% less than in Villeurbanne, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 7% below, Villeurbanne is 58% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Villeurbanne
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59āļŋ147
$17.22âŽ14.65
-73.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83āļŋ1,501
$57.6âŽ48.97
-18.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70āļŋ279
$13.54âŽ11.52
-35.75%
Cappuccino
$2.92āļŋ93.7
$4.01âŽ3.41
-27.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68āļŋ21.92
$2.84âŽ2.42
-76.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40āļŋ12.70
$1.93âŽ1.64
-79.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51āļŋ80.4
$5.67âŽ4.83
-55.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ122
$6.96âŽ5.93
-45.40%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Villeurbanne
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16āļŋ69.3
$1.40âŽ1.19
54.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88āļŋ60.3
$2.62âŽ2.23
-28.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16āļŋ69.2
$2.63âŽ2.24
-17.87%
Eggs
$2.22āļŋ71.2
$4.03âŽ3.43
-44.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57āļŋ627
$19.34âŽ16.45
1.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80āļŋ122
$15.49âŽ13.18
-75.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41āļŋ430
$25.45âŽ21.65
-47.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26āļŋ104
$3.09âŽ2.63
5.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.7
$2.48âŽ2.11
-35.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31āļŋ74.0
$3.56âŽ3.03
-35.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06āļŋ66.0
$3.84âŽ3.27
-46.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.5
$2.35âŽ2.00
-31.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44āļŋ46.26
$2.86âŽ2.43
-49.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.01
$1.47âŽ1.25
-29.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48āļŋ15.39
$0.86âŽ0.73
-44.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50āļŋ144
$13.67âŽ11.63
-67.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18āļŋ615
$8.35âŽ7.11
129.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82āļŋ58.4
$3.05âŽ2.60
-40.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69āļŋ86.2
$3.21âŽ2.73
-16.20%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Villeurbanne
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38āļŋ44.16
$2.33âŽ1.98
-40.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76āļŋ377
$84.6âŽ72.0
-86.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11āļŋ99.6
$5.15âŽ4.38
-39.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.18
$1.90âŽ1.62
-47.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74āļŋ441
$33.37âŽ28.40
-58.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.61
$2.01âŽ1.71
-35.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
$37.0KâŽ31.5K
-25.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$37.3KâŽ31.8K
-11.53%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Villeurbanne
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,004
$196âŽ167
-36.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74āļŋ440
$22.85âŽ19.44
-39.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61āļŋ597
$34.21âŽ29.11
-45.60%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Villeurbanne
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6āļŋ1,941
$37.05âŽ31.53
63.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15āļŋ550
$18.15âŽ15.45
-5.51%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01āļŋ289
$14.01âŽ11.92
-35.69%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Villeurbanne
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.4K
$752âŽ640
-7.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
$7,953âŽ6,768
102.59%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Villeurbanne
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2āļŋ1,898
$101âŽ85.5
-41.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86āļŋ1,118
$46.10âŽ39.23
-24.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114āļŋ3,662
$120âŽ102
-5.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8āļŋ2,751
$179âŽ152
-52.00%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Villeurbanne
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619āļŋ19.8K
$1,038âŽ883
-40.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437āļŋ14.0K
$763âŽ649
-42.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
$1,198âŽ1,019
73.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
$894âŽ761
68.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
$5,248âŽ4,466
-28.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
$2,985âŽ2,540
-9.76%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Villeurbanne
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528āļŋ16.9K
$3,809âŽ3,241
-86.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.67
45.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Villeurbanne: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $1,038 in Villeurbanne. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Villeurbanne pays 621% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47 in Phuket vs $58 in Villeurbanne for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $410 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 Villeurbanne: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villeurbanne cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Villeurbanne?
On paper, Villeurbanne earns 621% 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 Villeurbanne?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $1,038 in Villeurbanne. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $752 in Villeurbanne. 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 Villeurbanne?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Villeurbanne. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Villeurbanne?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $2,131 in Villeurbanne, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Villeurbanne. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Villeurbanne more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Villeurbanne, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Villeurbanne?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Villeurbanne 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 71% less than in Villeurbanne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.