Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-Leu and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint-Leu and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,584 in Saint-Leu versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,486 in Saint-Leu versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,388 in Saint-Leu versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Saint-Leu is roughly 26% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Saint-Leu is 18% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint-Leu
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.44 €25.37
$4.56 ฿149
545.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$91.0 €78.4
$46.63 ฿1,519
95.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.47 ฿276
-
Cappuccino
$2.85 €2.45
$3.03 ฿98.6
-5.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.69 ฿22.45
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 €1.01
$0.37 ฿11.92
216.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.99 €6.89
$2.49 ฿81.0
220.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.76 €4.96
$3.66 ฿119
57.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint-Leu
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 €1.02
$2.18 ฿71.0
-45.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 €1.09
$1.90 ฿62.0
-33.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 €2.03
$2.20 ฿71.6
6.82%
Eggs
$4.50 €3.87
$2.22 ฿72.4
102.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.36 €20.13
$19.99 ฿651
16.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$3.66 ฿119
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$13.25 ฿432
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 €2.95
$3.23 ฿105
6.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 €1.45
$1.70 ฿55.3
-0.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 €1.97
$2.39 ฿78.0
-4.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.40 €2.93
$2.08 ฿67.7
63.46%
Potato (1kg)
$2.35 €2.03
$1.59 ฿51.8
47.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 €2.05
$1.48 ฿48.31
60.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.03 ฿33.54
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 €0.77
$0.52 ฿16.83
73.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.27 €13.15
$4.25 ฿138
259.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.65 €4.87
$18.79 ฿612
-69.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 €1.53
$1.76 ฿57.2
0.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.76 ฿89.8
-
🚌 Getting Around
Saint-Leu
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 €2.04
$1.36 ฿44.32
74.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$46.49 €40.05
$11.36 ฿370
309.24%
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)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.34 ฿43.79
17.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.7K ฿901.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint-Leu
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.6 €84.1
$124 ฿4,025
-21.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.25 €8.83
$13.52 ฿440
-24.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.20 €29.46
$18.69 ฿609
82.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint-Leu
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.08 €29.37
$61.8 ฿2,013
-44.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25 ฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.37 €8.93
$9.14 ฿298
13.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint-Leu
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-Leu
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$59.5 ฿1,937
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$35.07 ฿1,142
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$115 ฿3,754
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$84.1 ฿2,737
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint-Leu
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,167 €1,006
$619 ฿20.1K
88.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$819 €705
$433 ฿14.1K
89.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,081 €1,793
$2,062 ฿67.2K
0.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,373 €1,183
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-9.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint-Leu
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,079 €1,792
$507 ฿16.5K
310.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
5.33
-24.95%

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

Last update for Saint-Leu: June 9, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,167 in Saint-Leu and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint-Leu pays 310% 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: $91.0 in Saint-Leu vs $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $218 vs $293, with Saint-Leu 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
Saint-Leu vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Saint-Leu?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Saint-Leu or Phuket?
Saint-Leu pays 310% 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-Leu and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,167 in Saint-Leu 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-Leu or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $91.0 in Saint-Leu. 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 309% less than in Saint-Leu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Saint-Leu or Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,584 in Saint-Leu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Saint-Leu. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Saint-Leu or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Saint-Leu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Saint-Leu or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Saint-Leu 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 26% less than in Saint-Leu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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