Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Wicklow Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Wicklow

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,734 in Wicklow.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $4,059 in Wicklow.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $5,384 in Wicklow.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 54% less than in Wicklow, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Wicklow is 104% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Wicklow
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$17.60 €15.14
-73.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$94.8 €81.6
-52.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$10.50 €9.03
-19.71%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$4.38 €3.76
-33.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$2.33 €2.00
-70.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$1.60 €1.38
-76.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$6.87 €5.91
-64.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$5.66 €4.87
-34.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Wicklow
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.27 €1.09
75.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$1.92 €1.65
-4.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$2.22 €1.91
-2.25%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$4.06 €3.50
-45.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$12.35 €10.62
59.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$10.52 €9.05
-65.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$9.82 €8.44
37.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$3.01 €2.59
8.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$2.10 €1.81
-23.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.75 €2.36
-12.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$3.45 €2.96
-39.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.38 €1.19
10.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$1.40 €1.20
5.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$1.42 €1.22
-30.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$1.61 €1.38
-68.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$18.75 €16.13
-76.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$14.11 €12.14
37.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$2.29 €1.97
-22.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$3.39 €2.91
-20.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Wicklow
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$2.42 €2.08
-43.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$100 €86.1
-88.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$2.53 €2.18
19.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$2.66 €2.28
-62.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$33.59 €28.90
-58.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$2.08 €1.79
-34.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$33.9K €29.2K
-16.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$39.7K €34.2K
-17.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Wicklow
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$281 €241
-56.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$21.86 €18.80
-37.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$49.58 €42.65
-63.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Wicklow
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$61.4 €52.8
-1.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$14.15 €12.18
-38.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Wicklow
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$1,042 €896
-33.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$8,045 €6,920
95.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Wicklow
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$89.9 €77.3
-33.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$39.98 €34.39
-13.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$93.4 €80.3
22.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$106 €91.3
-21.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Wicklow
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$1,756 €1,511
-65.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$1,396 €1,201
-68.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$3,170 €2,727
-33.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$2,468 €2,123
-38.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Wicklow
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$5,688 €4,893
-91.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
3.77
41.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Wicklow: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $1,756 in Wicklow. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wicklow pays 1020% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $95.0 in Wicklow for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $310 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 Wicklow: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wicklow cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 116% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Wicklow?
On paper, Wicklow earns 1020% 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 Wicklow?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $1,756 in Wicklow. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $1,042 in Wicklow. 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 Wicklow?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Wicklow. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Wicklow?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,734 in Wicklow, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Wicklow. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Wicklow more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Wicklow, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Wicklow?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Wicklow 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 116% less than in Wicklow. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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