🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,886 in Willemstad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,969 in Willemstad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $4,052 in Willemstad.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 33% less than in Willemstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Willemstad is 41% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$18.25ANG 32.58
-74.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,483
$70.1ANG 125
-35.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿276
$8.40ANG 15.00
0.36%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.7
$3.59ANG 6.41
-18.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.42
$2.98ANG 5.31
-76.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.00
$1.47ANG 2.63
-74.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.7
$5.72ANG 10.20
-57.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$4.63ANG 8.26
-19.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.0
$1.78ANG 3.17
25.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.9
$2.35ANG 4.20
-22.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.9
$2.68ANG 4.78
-19.03%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.4
$3.63ANG 6.49
-39.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$9.69ANG 17.31
103.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$7.63ANG 13.62
-52.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$9.45ANG 16.86
43.17%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$5.25ANG 9.37
-37.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.7
$3.24ANG 5.78
-50.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.7
$3.04ANG 5.43
-20.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$4.28ANG 7.63
-51.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.97
$3.04ANG 5.44
-49.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.41
$2.83ANG 5.04
-47.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.32
$2.18ANG 3.89
-54.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.68
$2.10ANG 3.75
-75.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$8.45ANG 15.09
-47.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿634
$14.20ANG 25.35
36.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$2.57ANG 4.59
-30.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.7
$3.17ANG 5.66
-14.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.83
$1.69ANG 3.01
-18.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.7
$25.20ANG 44.99
-88.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.51
$2.64ANG 4.72
-62.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$50.6ANG 90.2
-72.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.55
$1.27ANG 2.27
7.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$19.4KANG 34.6K
69.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,978
$239ANG 427
-49.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$82.4ANG 147
-83.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿599
$64.0ANG 114
-71.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,969
$54.7ANG 97.7
10.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$63.2ANG 113
-72.86%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$9.66ANG 17.24
-10.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.7K
$225ANG 402
207.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.8K
$9,503ANG 17.0K
65.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,946
$89.9ANG 160
-33.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,137
$92.1ANG 164
-62.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,746
$142ANG 254
-19.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,723
$110ANG 197
-24.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$724ANG 1,292
-15.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$553ANG 987
-20.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.5K
$1,726ANG 3,081
21.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$1,156ANG 2,064
30.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.6K
$848ANG 1,514
342.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.5K
$166ANG 296
1477.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$1,238ANG 2,210
-58.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.97
7.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Willemstad: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $724 in Willemstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Willemstad pays 144% 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 $70.0 in Willemstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $338 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 Willemstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Willemstad cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Willemstad?
On paper, Willemstad earns 144% 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 Willemstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $724 in Willemstad. 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 $225 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 Willemstad?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $70.0 in Willemstad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Willemstad?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,886 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 49% less than in Willemstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.