Cost of Living Comparison Between Roseau and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Roseau and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,199 in Roseau versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Roseau versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,887 in Roseau versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Roseau costs roughly 5% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Roseau 11% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roseau
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35 EC$19.84
$4.70 ฿153
56.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 EC$148
$45.37 ฿1,482
20.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.64 EC$17.94
$8.43 ฿275
-21.23%
Cappuccino
$4.06 EC$10.96
$2.93 ฿95.6
38.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 EC$6.64
$0.69 ฿22.40
256.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 EC$6.05
$0.37 ฿11.99
505.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 EC$4.89
$2.41 ฿78.6
-24.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 EC$6.95
$3.72 ฿122
-30.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roseau
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.02 EC$8.17
$2.23 ฿72.9
35.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 EC$4.67
$1.83 ฿59.8
-5.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 EC$2.40
$2.17 ฿70.8
-58.99%
Eggs
$5.42 EC$14.64
$2.21 ฿72.3
145.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.24 EC$6.04
$19.74 ฿645
-88.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.27 EC$27.73
$3.63 ฿119
182.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.20 EC$32.94
$13.53 ฿442
-9.83%
Apples (1kg)
$6.35 EC$17.13
$3.28 ฿107
93.60%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 EC$5.95
$1.61 ฿52.6
36.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.81 EC$12.98
$2.41 ฿78.6
99.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.26 EC$14.21
$2.08 ฿68.1
152.88%
Potato (1kg)
$3.28 EC$8.85
$1.53 ฿49.93
114.38%
Onion (1kg)
$3.10 EC$8.38
$1.48 ฿48.36
109.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 EC$5.79
$0.99 ฿32.29
116.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 EC$7.61
$0.51 ฿16.67
452.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.41 ฿144
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.21 EC$30.26
$19.38 ฿633
-42.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 EC$7.50
$1.78 ฿58.1
56.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 EC$7.96
$2.71 ฿88.6
8.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Roseau
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.37 ฿44.79
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.06 EC$86.6
$11.39 ฿372
181.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 EC$9.83
$3.02 ฿98.6
20.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.74 EC$10.10
$0.99 ฿32.48
277.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.43 EC$28.16
$14.10 ฿461
-26.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 EC$3.64
$1.36 ฿44.51
-0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K EC$90.6K
$28.2K ฿921.1K
18.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K EC$80.4K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-9.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roseau
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$140 EC$377
$122 ฿3,975
14.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.84 EC$113
$13.57 ฿443
208.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.9 EC$154
$18.31 ฿598
210.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roseau
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.52 EC$126
$60.2 ฿1,967
-22.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.13 EC$62.5
$17.14 ฿560
34.95%
Cinema Ticket
$8.41 EC$22.71
$8.69 ฿284
-3.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roseau
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$109 EC$294
$693 ฿22.6K
-84.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,278 EC$8,850
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-79.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roseau
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.7 EC$212
$59.5 ฿1,944
32.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.74 EC$126
$34.77 ฿1,136
34.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.4 EC$263
$115 ฿3,743
-15.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.8 EC$245
$83.3 ฿2,720
8.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roseau
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$281 EC$759
$613 ฿20.0K
-54.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$200 EC$539
$437 ฿14.3K
-54.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$901 EC$2,432
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-56.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$622 EC$1,679
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-58.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$123 EC$331
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-96.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$57.3 EC$155
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-97.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roseau
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$485 EC$1,311
$508 ฿16.6K
-4.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.6
5.33
42.59%

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

Last update for Roseau: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Roseau and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 5% 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: $55.0 in Roseau vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $359 vs $293 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
Roseau vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Roseau?
Roseau is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Roseau or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 5% 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 Roseau and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $281 in Roseau versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $109 in Roseau versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Roseau and Phuket?
Shoppers in Phuket pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Roseau or Phuket?
At $1,199 in Roseau versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Roseau but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Roseau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Roseau or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Roseau is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Roseau or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Roseau and Phuket 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 Roseau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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