Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and YeosuCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Yeosu
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,449 in Yeosu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $2,269 in Yeosu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $3,090 in Yeosu.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 16% less than in Yeosu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Yeosu is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Yeosu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$5.73₩8,651
-21.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$37.00₩55.9K
26.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$5.83₩8,809
45.63%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$3.95₩5,974
-22.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$1.29₩1,950
-47.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$0.76₩1,155
-52.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$3.57₩5,388
-31.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$4.33₩6,543
-16.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Yeosu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$2.09₩3,163
4.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$2.88₩4,353
-37.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$3.01₩4,541
-25.91%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$2.86₩4,322
-21.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$10.60₩16.0K
84.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$8.13₩12.3K
-54.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
$27.88₩42.1K
-51.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$7.37₩11.1K
-54.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$3.21₩4,855
-49.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$7.51₩11.4K
-67.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$5.34₩8,069
-62.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$3.63₩5,482
-57.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$3.00₩4,530
-51.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$2.00₩3,026
-49.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$1.08₩1,629
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$3.25₩4,915
31.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$13.05₩19.7K
46.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$1.76₩2,654
4.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$2.19₩3,301
25.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Yeosu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
$1.11₩1,671
27.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
$41.21₩62.3K
-71.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$2.89₩4,360
3.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$0.70₩1,058
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$9.81₩14.8K
41.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$1.14₩1,722
13.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$28.1K₩42.4M
-0.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$24.5K₩37.1M
36.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Yeosu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$182₩274.8K
-32.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$50.5₩76.3K
-72.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$21.73₩32.8K
-13.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Yeosu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
$47.00₩71.0K
30.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
$18.15₩27.4K
-7.22%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$10.41₩15.7K
-14.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Yeosu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$372₩562.2K
85.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$13.9K₩21.0M
16.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Yeosu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$54.7₩82.6K
5.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$36.89₩55.7K
-4.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$72.1₩109.0K
57.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$110₩166.5K
-24.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Yeosu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
$450₩680.2K
34.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
$375₩566.4K
19.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
$1,046₩1.6M
94.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
$782₩1.2M
91.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
$9,655₩14.6M
-62.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
$5,245₩7.9M
-50.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Yeosu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
$1,854₩2.8M
-72.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4
33.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Yeosu: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $450 in Yeosu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yeosu pays 267% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $37.00 in Yeosu. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $419, with Phuket cheaper for home cooking.
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 Yeosu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yeosu cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Yeosu?
On paper, Yeosu earns 267% 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 Yeosu?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $450 in Yeosu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $372 in Yeosu. 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 Yeosu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Yeosu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Yeosu?
At $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,449 in Yeosu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Yeosu. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Yeosu more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Yeosu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Yeosu?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Yeosu 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 18% less than in Yeosu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.