🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,825 in Willemstad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,920 in Willemstad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $4,015 in Willemstad.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 32% less than in Willemstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Willemstad is 37% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$18.32ANG 32.71
-75.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$70.9ANG 127
-34.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$8.53ANG 15.22
3.63%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$3.50ANG 6.25
-12.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$2.91ANG 5.19
-74.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$1.43ANG 2.55
-72.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$5.63ANG 10.05
-56.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$4.79ANG 8.54
-21.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.72ANG 3.06
31.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$2.35ANG 4.20
-22.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$2.72ANG 4.85
-17.28%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$3.60ANG 6.42
-37.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$9.68ANG 17.28
101.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$7.67ANG 13.70
-52.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$9.44ANG 16.84
38.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$5.02ANG 8.97
-35.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$3.37ANG 6.02
-51.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$3.11ANG 5.55
-23.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$4.37ANG 7.80
-53.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$3.01ANG 5.38
-49.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$2.86ANG 5.10
-47.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$2.19ANG 3.91
-55.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$2.11ANG 3.78
-75.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$8.30ANG 14.81
-46.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$12.28ANG 21.91
49.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$2.56ANG 4.58
-27.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$3.29ANG 5.87
-18.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$1.71ANG 3.06
-17.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$25.60ANG 45.70
-87.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$2.59ANG 4.63
-59.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$50.3ANG 89.8
-71.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.27ANG 2.27
3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$19.7KANG 35.1K
68.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$238ANG 425
-48.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$82.1ANG 147
-83.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$62.2ANG 111
-69.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$55.7ANG 99.4
8.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$63.1ANG 113
-73.08%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$9.66ANG 17.25
-6.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$228ANG 408
209.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$9,378ANG 16.7K
68.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$89.8ANG 160
-34.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$89.2ANG 159
-60.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$142ANG 253
-18.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$109ANG 195
-23.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$724ANG 1,293
-13.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$546ANG 974
-18.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$1,725ANG 3,079
18.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$1,172ANG 2,092
27.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$841ANG 1,501
314.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$169ANG 302
1422.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Willemstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$1,278ANG 2,282
-60.89%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Willemstad: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $724 in Willemstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Willemstad pays 156% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $71.0 in Willemstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $334 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 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Willemstad?
On paper, salaries run 156% 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: $626 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 $706 in Phuket versus $228 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 $46.00 versus $71.0 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 $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,825 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 46% less than in Willemstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.