Cost of Living Comparison Between San Pawl Il-bahar and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between San Pawl Il-bahar and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,721 in San Pawl Il-bahar versus $1,253 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,717 in San Pawl Il-bahar versus $2,043 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,713 in San Pawl Il-bahar versus $2,833 in Phuket.

Living in San Pawl Il-bahar is roughly 37% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: San Pawl Il-bahar is 25% above, Phuket is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Pawl Il-bahar
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.61 €17.72
$4.56 ฿150
351.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$88.3 €75.9
$32.62 ฿1,073
170.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.71 €10.07
$8.90 ฿293
31.57%
Cappuccino
$2.64 €2.27
$2.80 ฿92.2
-5.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 €2.19
$0.88 ฿28.94
189.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 €1.83
$0.49 ฿16.08
334.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.53 €3.90
$2.39 ฿78.5
89.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33 €4.58
$3.71 ฿122
43.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Pawl Il-bahar
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 €1.19
$1.79 ฿58.8
-22.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 €1.09
$1.44 ฿47.40
-11.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.18 €3.59
$1.58 ฿52.1
164.56%
Eggs
$3.68 €3.16
$2.13 ฿69.9
72.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.58 €7.37
$19.92 ฿655
-56.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.28 €7.12
$3.43 ฿113
141.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.65 €8.30
$11.33 ฿372
-14.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 €2.73
$2.95 ฿97.0
7.80%
Banana (1kg)
$2.09 €1.80
$1.72 ฿56.6
21.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.97 €2.56
$2.32 ฿76.5
28.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.85 €2.45
$2.08 ฿68.4
37.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.67 €1.43
$1.47 ฿48.34
13.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 €1.59
$1.36 ฿44.65
36.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 €1.09
$1.10 ฿36.13
15.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.13
$0.57 ฿18.89
129.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.52 €5.60
$4.27 ฿140
52.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.53 €7.33
$18.42 ฿606
-53.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 €1.37
$1.87 ฿61.5
-14.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 €1.79
$2.92 ฿96.1
-28.77%
🚌 Getting Around
San Pawl Il-bahar
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.98 €2.56
$2.22 ฿73.0
34.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.90 ฿753
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.92 €5.09
$3.03 ฿99.6
95.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.35 €2.02
$1.07 ฿35.32
119.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.13 €24.18
$3.93 ฿129
615.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 €1.32
$1.49 ฿49.06
3.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6K €33.2K
$27.1K ฿892.0K
42.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6K €34.9K
$27.5K ฿902.6K
47.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Pawl Il-bahar
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.9 €51.5
$103 ฿3,380
-41.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.98 €18.04
$10.99 ฿361
90.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.54 €36.57
$17.51 ฿576
142.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Pawl Il-bahar
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 €45.33
$53.5 ฿1,760
-1.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.87 €11.93
$11.20 ฿368
23.84%
Cinema Ticket
$10.50 €9.03
$7.48 ฿246
40.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Pawl Il-bahar
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$388 €333
$557 ฿18.3K
-30.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K €9,750
$11.9K ฿389.7K
-4.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Pawl Il-bahar
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.19 €19.93
$64.1 ฿2,107
-63.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.40 €29.57
$29.07 ฿956
18.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 €87.7
$96.0 ฿3,155
6.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.2 €66.4
$90.3 ฿2,970
-14.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Pawl Il-bahar
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 €879
$730 ฿24.0K
40.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$822 €706
$500 ฿16.4K
64.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,704 €1,465
$2,090 ฿68.7K
-18.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,410 €1,212
$1,209 ฿39.8K
16.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,626 €3,117
$3,596 ฿118.2K
0.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,068 €2,638
$2,512 ฿82.6K
22.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Pawl Il-bahar
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,719 €1,478
$503 ฿16.6K
241.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.9
5.57
-47.94%

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

Last update for San Pawl Il-bahar: September 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,023 in San Pawl Il-bahar and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Pawl Il-bahar pays 242% 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: $88.0 in San Pawl Il-bahar vs $33.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $273, with San Pawl Il-bahar 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
San Pawl Il-bahar vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than San Pawl Il-bahar?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: San Pawl Il-bahar or Phuket?
Average pay runs 242% higher in San Pawl Il-bahar, 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 San Pawl Il-bahar and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,023 in San Pawl Il-bahar versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $388 in San Pawl Il-bahar versus $557 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in San Pawl Il-bahar or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $88.0 in San Pawl Il-bahar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in San Pawl Il-bahar or in Phuket?
At $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,721 in San Pawl Il-bahar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in San Pawl Il-bahar. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is San Pawl Il-bahar or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in San Pawl Il-bahar, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, San Pawl Il-bahar or Phuket?
Safety-wise, San Pawl Il-bahar 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 37% less than in San Pawl Il-bahar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

San Pawl Il-bahar vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities