😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,653 in Saint-Denis versus $1,261 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,592 in Saint-Denis versus $2,286 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,530 in Saint-Denis versus $3,310 in Phuket.
😐Living in Saint-Denis is roughly 31% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Saint-Denis is 23% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint-Denis
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.84€16.23
$4.56฿149
313.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.7€50.6
$46.63฿1,519
25.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$20.67€17.81
$8.47฿276
144.04%
Cappuccino
$4.08€3.51
$3.03฿98.6
34.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56€3.07
$0.69฿22.45
415.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88€2.48
$0.37฿11.92
678.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.68€4.03
$2.49฿81.0
87.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53€3.90
$3.66฿119
23.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint-Denis
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.11
$2.18฿71.0
-40.83%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.90฿62.0
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42€2.09
$2.20฿71.6
10.00%
Eggs
$4.19€3.61
$2.22฿72.4
88.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.07€18.16
$19.99฿651
5.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.97€12.03
$3.66฿119
281.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.00€19.81
$13.25฿432
73.58%
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.23฿105
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.70฿55.3
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.39฿78.0
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.08฿67.7
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.59฿51.8
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.88€2.48
$1.48฿48.31
94.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68€1.45
$1.03฿33.54
63.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24€1.07
$0.52฿16.83
138.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.52€10.79
$4.25฿138
194.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.91€6.82
$18.79฿612
-57.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52€2.17
$1.76฿57.2
43.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43€2.96
$2.76฿89.8
24.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint-Denis
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.34€2.02
$1.36฿44.32
72.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.42€37.41
$11.36฿370
282.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.14฿102
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.04฿33.74
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$13.77฿448
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.34฿43.79
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.7K€28.2K
$27.7K฿901.4K
18.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€28.7K
$33.9K฿1.1M
-1.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-Denis
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139€120
$124฿4,025
12.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.57€9.97
$13.52฿440
-14.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.1€48.37
$18.69฿609
200.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint-Denis
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.74€29.93
$61.8฿2,013
-43.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.06€12.11
$17.25฿562
-18.49%
Cinema Ticket
$11.73€10.11
$9.14฿298
28.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint-Denis
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$703฿22.9K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.9K฿517.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint-Denis
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116€99.8
$59.5฿1,937
94.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$35.07฿1,142
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$141€122
$115฿3,754
22.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€101
$84.1฿2,737
39.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint-Denis
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$802€691
$619฿20.1K
29.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$572€493
$433฿14.1K
32.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,647€1,419
$2,062฿67.2K
-20.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,061€914
$1,511฿49.2K
-29.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,646฿118.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,626฿85.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint-Denis
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,150€1,853
$507฿16.5K
324.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Saint-Denis: June 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $802 in Saint-Denis and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saint-Denis pays 324% 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: $59.0 in Saint-Denis vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $304 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
Saint-Denis vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Saint-Denis?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Saint-Denis or Phuket?
Saint-Denis pays 324% 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 Saint-Denis and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $802 in Saint-Denis versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Saint-Denis or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $59.0 in Saint-Denis. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 282% less than in Saint-Denis. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Saint-Denis or Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,653 in Saint-Denis, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Saint-Denis. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Saint-Denis or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Saint-Denis, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Saint-Denis or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Saint-Denis 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 31% less than in Saint-Denis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Saint-Denis vs other spots: cost of living compared