🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,098 in Willemstad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $3,204 in Willemstad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $4,310 in Willemstad.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 40% less than in Willemstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Willemstad is 52% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿153
$19.07ANG 34.04
-75.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,057
$82.4ANG 147
-60.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿285
$11.21ANG 20.00
-22.57%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.1
$3.79ANG 6.77
-23.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.69
$3.10ANG 5.53
-72.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.05
$1.85ANG 3.31
-73.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿81.5
$5.88ANG 10.49
-57.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿122
$5.24ANG 9.36
-28.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿61.9
$1.93ANG 3.45
-2.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.21
$2.94ANG 5.25
-52.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.2
$3.57ANG 6.37
-54.62%
Eggs
$2.24฿73.5
$3.84ANG 6.85
-41.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿651
$16.36ANG 29.20
21.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿114
$7.13ANG 12.72
-51.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿373
$11.89ANG 21.23
-4.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.1
$5.43ANG 9.69
-46.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$3.05ANG 5.45
-43.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿74.6
$3.38ANG 6.04
-32.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.0
$4.01ANG 7.15
-46.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.38
$2.55ANG 4.55
-42.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.59
$1.96ANG 3.50
-27.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.00
$2.41ANG 4.30
-54.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.62
$2.79ANG 4.98
-78.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿141
$9.78ANG 17.45
-55.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿610
$12.12ANG 21.63
53.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.1
$2.41ANG 4.30
-25.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿97.3
$2.42ANG 4.33
22.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿73.7
$1.91ANG 3.40
17.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿771
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$22.42ANG 40.02
-86.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.31
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿127
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿46.83
$1.32ANG 2.36
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿911.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿885.3K
$20.7KANG 36.9K
30.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,438
$274ANG 489
-61.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿374
$77.3ANG 138
-85.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿576
$65.6ANG 117
-73.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,783
$48.88ANG 87.3
11.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿375
$44.85ANG 80.1
-74.49%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿255
$12.16ANG 21.71
-36.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿18.9K
$322ANG 576
78.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿380.0K
$12.3KANG 22.0K
-6.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,088
$102ANG 181
-37.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿955
$73.0ANG 130
-60.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,157
$163ANG 291
-40.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,953
$93.1ANG 166
-3.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.1K
$810ANG 1,446
-9.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.4K
$678ANG 1,210
-26.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿69.7K
$1,688ANG 3,014
25.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.1K
$1,212ANG 2,163
3.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿115.9K
$832ANG 1,485
324.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.0K
$164ANG 294
1494.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.7K
$1,233ANG 2,200
-58.82%
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: September 6, 2026
Last update for Willemstad: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $810 in Willemstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Willemstad pays 143% 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 $82.0 in Willemstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $374 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 66% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Willemstad?
On paper, salaries run 143% 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: $733 in Phuket versus $810 in Willemstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $322 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 $82.0 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 $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,098 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 66% less than in Willemstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.