😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,310 in Saguenay versus $1,265 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,332 in Saguenay versus $2,297 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,353 in Saguenay versus $3,329 in Phuket.
😐Living in Saguenay is roughly 4% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Saguenay2% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saguenay
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18CA$18.34
$4.70฿153
180.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.32CA$60.3
$45.37฿1,482
-4.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90CA$15.16
$8.43฿275
29.30%
Cappuccino
$3.76CA$5.23
$2.93฿95.6
28.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59CA$2.21
$0.69฿22.40
130.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27CA$1.76
$0.37฿11.99
243.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.49CA$7.63
$2.41฿78.6
127.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00CA$6.96
$3.72฿122
34.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saguenay
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18CA$3.04
$2.23฿72.9
-2.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89CA$4.02
$1.83฿59.8
57.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.46CA$6.20
$2.17฿70.8
105.53%
Eggs
$2.62CA$3.65
$2.21฿72.3
18.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.89CA$17.93
$19.74฿645
-34.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.94CA$12.43
$3.63฿119
146.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.89CA$19.32
$13.53฿442
2.66%
Apples(1kg)
$4.02CA$5.60
$3.28฿107
22.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33CA$1.85
$1.61฿52.6
-17.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.12CA$5.73
$2.41฿78.6
70.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.95CA$5.49
$2.08฿68.1
89.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.94CA$2.70
$1.53฿49.93
26.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59CA$2.21
$1.48฿48.36
7.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64CA$3.67
$0.99฿32.29
166.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88CA$1.23
$0.51฿16.67
72.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.23CA$17.01
$4.41฿144
177.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.77CA$16.36
$19.38฿633
-39.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.04CA$4.22
$1.78฿58.1
70.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03CA$2.83
$2.71฿88.6
-25.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Saguenay
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.70CA$3.75
$1.37฿44.79
97.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.3CA$76.9
$11.39฿372
385.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.76CA$5.23
$3.02฿98.6
24.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03CA$2.82
$0.99฿32.48
105.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.36CA$42.22
$14.10฿461
115.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16CA$1.62
$1.36฿44.51
-14.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KCA$34.7K
$28.2K฿921.1K
-11.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2KCA$28.1K
$32.9K฿1.1M
-38.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saguenay
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$87.2CA$121
$122฿3,975
-28.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.92CA$52.7
$13.57฿443
179.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.61CA$62.0
$18.31฿598
143.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saguenay
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.58CA$45.31
$60.2฿1,967
-45.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.82CA$19.22
$17.14฿560
-19.37%
Cinema Ticket
$9.75CA$13.56
$8.69฿284
12.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saguenay
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$599CA$832
$693฿22.6K
-13.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,200CA$8,623
$15.7K฿512.3K
-60.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saguenay
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.5CA$85.5
$59.5฿1,944
3.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4CA$72.9
$34.77฿1,136
50.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.9CA$133
$115฿3,743
-16.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126CA$175
$83.3฿2,720
51.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saguenay
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$609CA$847
$613฿20.0K
-0.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$300CA$418
$437฿14.3K
-31.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,315CA$1,829
$2,094฿68.4K
-37.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,081CA$1,504
$1,509฿49.3K
-28.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,913CA$8,223
$3,749฿122.5K
57.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,562CA$4,954
$2,616฿85.4K
36.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saguenay
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,634CA$3,663
$508฿16.6K
418.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.87
5.33
28.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saguenay: May 30, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $609 in Saguenay and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saguenay pays 418% 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: $43.00 in Saguenay vs $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $341 vs $293, 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
Saguenay vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Saguenay?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Saguenay or Phuket?
Saguenay pays 418% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Saguenay and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $609 in Saguenay 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 $599 in Saguenay 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 Saguenay and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Saguenay. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Saguenay or Phuket?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,310 in Saguenay, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Saguenay. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Saguenay or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Saguenay, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Saguenay or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Saguenay 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Saguenay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.