ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,846 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $2,705 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,306 in Phuket versus $3,565 in Villingen-Schwenningen.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 32% less than in Villingen-Schwenningen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 7% below, Villingen-Schwenningen is 37% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59āļŋ147
$15.35âŽ13.06
-70.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83āļŋ1,501
$58.3âŽ49.59
-19.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70āļŋ279
$11.16âŽ9.50
-22.04%
Cappuccino
$2.92āļŋ93.7
$3.13âŽ2.66
-6.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68āļŋ21.92
$3.21âŽ2.73
-78.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40āļŋ12.70
$2.63âŽ2.24
-84.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51āļŋ80.4
$4.37âŽ3.72
-42.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ122
$4.78âŽ4.07
-20.50%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16āļŋ69.3
$1.23âŽ1.04
75.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88āļŋ60.3
$2.17âŽ1.85
-13.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16āļŋ69.2
$3.54âŽ3.01
-38.98%
Eggs
$2.22āļŋ71.2
$2.61âŽ2.22
-14.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57āļŋ627
$10.05âŽ8.55
94.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80āļŋ122
$12.76âŽ10.86
-70.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41āļŋ430
$20.41âŽ17.37
-34.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26āļŋ104
$3.12âŽ2.66
4.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.7
$1.69âŽ1.44
-4.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31āļŋ74.0
$2.21âŽ1.88
4.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06āļŋ66.0
$4.18âŽ3.56
-50.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.5
$1.53âŽ1.30
5.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44āļŋ46.26
$1.62âŽ1.37
-11.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.01
$1.93âŽ1.65
-46.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48āļŋ15.39
$1.22âŽ1.04
-60.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50āļŋ144
$9.57âŽ8.14
-52.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18āļŋ615
$4.02âŽ3.43
377.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82āļŋ58.4
$1.07âŽ0.91
70.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69āļŋ86.2
$1.73âŽ1.47
55.49%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38āļŋ44.16
$2.85âŽ2.43
-51.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76āļŋ377
$66.0âŽ56.1
-82.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11āļŋ99.6
$5.48âŽ4.67
-43.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.18
$2.35âŽ2.00
-57.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74āļŋ441
$38.07âŽ32.40
-63.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.61
$2.09âŽ1.78
-37.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
$32.0KâŽ27.3K
-14.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$36.8KâŽ31.3K
-10.19%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,004
$394âŽ335
-68.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74āļŋ440
$16.08âŽ13.69
-14.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61āļŋ597
$52.8âŽ44.97
-64.78%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6āļŋ1,941
$34.15âŽ29.07
77.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15āļŋ550
$23.25âŽ19.79
-26.24%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01āļŋ289
$12.12âŽ10.32
-25.66%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.4K
$275âŽ234
153.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
$13.3KâŽ11.3K
21.31%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2āļŋ1,898
$103âŽ87.4
-42.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86āļŋ1,118
$57.6âŽ49.05
-39.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114āļŋ3,662
$91.0âŽ77.5
25.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8āļŋ2,751
$141âŽ120
-39.17%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619āļŋ19.8K
$478âŽ407
29.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437āļŋ14.0K
$476âŽ405
-8.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
$924âŽ786
124.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
$807âŽ686
87.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
$4,555âŽ3,876
-17.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
$3,920âŽ3,336
-31.29%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Villingen-Schwenningen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528āļŋ16.9K
$4,222âŽ3,593
-87.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.99
33.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Villingen-Schwenningen: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $478 in Villingen-Schwenningen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Villingen-Schwenningen pays 699% 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 Villingen-Schwenningen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $316 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 Villingen-Schwenningen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villingen-Schwenningen cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Villingen-Schwenningen?
On paper, Villingen-Schwenningen earns 699% 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 Villingen-Schwenningen?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $478 in Villingen-Schwenningen. 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 $275 in Villingen-Schwenningen. 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 Villingen-Schwenningen?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Villingen-Schwenningen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Villingen-Schwenningen?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,846 in Villingen-Schwenningen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Villingen-Schwenningen. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Villingen-Schwenningen more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Villingen-Schwenningen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Villingen-Schwenningen?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Villingen-Schwenningen 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 48% less than in Villingen-Schwenningen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.