Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Willemstad

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,208 a month against $2,017 in Willemstad, rent and utilities included – about $9,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Willemstad
🇨🇼 Curacao
$2,017
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Willemstad

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Willemstad actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,208 in Phuket versus $2,017 in Willemstad.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Willemstad $2,017

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Phuket versus $3,102 in Willemstad.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Willemstad $3,102

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Phuket versus $4,187 in Willemstad.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Willemstad $4,187

Living in Phuket costs roughly 40% less than in Willemstad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 11% below, Willemstad is 49% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$18.52 ANG 33.15
-76.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$75.2 ANG 135
-57.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$11.02 ANG 19.73
-20.51%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$3.63 ANG 6.50
-22.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$2.94 ANG 5.26
-69.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$1.74 ANG 3.12
-72.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$5.76 ANG 10.31
-55.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$5.46 ANG 9.78
-29.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$2.00 ANG 3.58
-13.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$2.86 ANG 5.12
-48.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$3.57 ANG 6.40
-57.70%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$4.15 ANG 7.42
-47.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$16.60 ANG 29.71
18.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$7.23 ANG 12.94
-53.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$11.97 ANG 21.43
-6.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$5.44 ANG 9.74
-47.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$3.03 ANG 5.42
-43.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$3.33 ANG 5.96
-34.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$3.82 ANG 6.83
-46.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$2.53 ANG 4.52
-42.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$1.98 ANG 3.54
-30.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$2.44 ANG 4.37
-56.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$2.93 ANG 5.24
-82.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$10.16 ANG 18.18
-58.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$12.32 ANG 22.05
50.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$2.35 ANG 4.21
-24.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$2.40 ANG 4.30
18.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
$1.92 ANG 3.44
17.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$22.77 ANG 40.76
-86.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$1.35 ANG 2.41
7.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$20.4K ANG 36.5K
32.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$272 ANG 487
-64.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$77.1 ANG 138
-85.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$64.6 ANG 116
-73.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
$47.22 ANG 84.5
10.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
$43.82 ANG 78.4
-74.53%
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$11.92 ANG 21.33
-34.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$328 ANG 587
69.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$12.3K ANG 22.0K
-5.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$104 ANG 186
-38.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$73.8 ANG 132
-61.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$164 ANG 293
-41.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$94.1 ANG 168
-6.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$797 ANG 1,426
-7.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$645 ANG 1,155
-28.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$1,690 ANG 3,025
23.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$1,204 ANG 2,155
-0.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
$837 ANG 1,498
316.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$165 ANG 296
1426.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
$1,238 ANG 2,217
-59.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.97
12.07%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Willemstad: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Willemstad
$645 39.6% $183
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Willemstad
$377 40.2% $108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Willemstad
$414 232% $289
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Willemstad
$196 57.7% $72
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Willemstad
$283 134% $162
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Willemstad
$71 4.8% $3.3
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Willemstad
$30 * 22.7% $9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Phuket and $797 in Willemstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Willemstad pays 147% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $75.0 in Willemstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $377 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇼 Willemstad
🕒 Local time
01:41 1:41 AM
14:41 2:41 PM
11 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
140,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

ANG, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Netherlands Antillean Guilder exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 1.79 ANG (1 ANG = 0.559 USD). 1 EUR = 2.01 ANG (1 ANG = 0.497 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Willemstad 17,390 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Willemstad

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Willemstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Willemstad cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 67% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Willemstad?
On paper, salaries run 147% lower in Willemstad. 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 Willemstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Phuket versus $797 in Willemstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $556 in Phuket versus $328 in Willemstad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Willemstad?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $75.0 in Willemstad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Willemstad?
At $1,208 in Phuket versus $2,017 in Willemstad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Willemstad. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Willemstad more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Willemstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Willemstad?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Willemstad 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 67% less than in Willemstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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