🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Sannicolau Mare versus $1,264 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,580 in Sannicolau Mare versus $2,256 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,126 in Sannicolau Mare versus $3,248 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Sannicolau Mare costs roughly 18% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sannicolau Mare22% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sannicolau Mare
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40RON 42.75
$4.48฿150
109.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.56RON 207
$45.59฿1,521
-0.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.78RON 30.84
$8.76฿292
-22.60%
Cappuccino
$3.12RON 14.17
$2.97฿99.0
5.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98RON 8.99
$0.69฿22.90
186.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71RON 7.76
$0.39฿13.04
338.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71RON 12.31
$2.53฿84.4
7.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40RON 15.45
$3.75฿125
-9.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sannicolau Mare
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50RON 6.82
$2.15฿71.6
-30.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21RON 5.51
$1.82฿60.6
-33.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57RON 7.16
$2.18฿72.9
-27.98%
Eggs
$3.24RON 14.74
$2.25฿75.0
44.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.12RON 36.90
$20.00฿667
-59.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.03RON 27.43
$3.63฿121
66.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.90RON 40.49
$13.56฿452
-34.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.17RON 5.34
$3.24฿108
-63.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56RON 7.10
$1.64฿54.6
-4.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65RON 7.48
$2.33฿77.8
-29.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15RON 9.80
$2.07฿69.1
3.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77RON 3.48
$1.55฿51.6
-50.32%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89RON 4.04
$1.46฿48.54
-39.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03RON 4.67
$0.98฿32.86
5.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87RON 3.96
$0.48฿16.09
81.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.03RON 27.42
$4.35฿145
38.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.24RON 37.47
$18.57฿620
-55.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00RON 4.53
$1.86฿61.9
-46.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79RON 8.14
$2.65฿88.6
-32.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Sannicolau Mare
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71RON 3.21
$1.42฿47.28
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.58RON 89.0
$11.57฿386
69.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94RON 4.28
$3.17฿106
-70.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83RON 3.77
$1.03฿34.41
-19.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.23RON 41.97
$13.89฿463
-33.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.58RON 7.19
$1.34฿44.84
17.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KRON 129.6K
$27.8K฿927.1K
2.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KRON 117.6K
$33.4K฿1.1M
-22.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sannicolau Mare
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143RON 649
$123฿4,105
15.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.59RON 39.06
$13.77฿459
-37.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.44RON 52.0
$18.33฿611
-37.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sannicolau Mare
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.97RON 191
$60.7฿2,025
-30.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.98RON 86.3
$17.16฿573
10.61%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11RON 32.31
$8.87฿296
-19.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sannicolau Mare
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428RON 1,946
$688฿22.9K
-37.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,897RON 31.4K
$15.8K฿526.4K
-56.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sannicolau Mare
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3RON 311
$59.3฿1,978
15.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98RON 173
$34.69฿1,157
9.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.1RON 387
$115฿3,843
-26.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.0RON 427
$83.8฿2,794
12.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sannicolau Mare
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$394RON 1,792
$621฿20.7K
-36.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$291RON 1,321
$446฿14.9K
-34.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$598RON 2,721
$2,034฿67.8K
-70.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$440RON 2,000
$1,496฿49.9K
-70.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,236RON 10.2K
$3,455฿115.3K
-35.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,290RON 5,864
$2,531฿84.4K
-49.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sannicolau Mare
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
5.33
21.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sannicolau Mare: July 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $394 in Sannicolau Mare and $621 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Sannicolau Mare vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $291 per month, with Sannicolau Mare 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
Sannicolau Mare vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Sannicolau Mare?
Sannicolau Mare is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,551 in Sannicolau Mare and $1,896 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Sannicolau Mare and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $394 in Sannicolau Mare versus $621 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $428 in Sannicolau Mare versus $688 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 Sannicolau Mare and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Sannicolau Mare or in Phuket?
At $1,034 in Sannicolau Mare versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sannicolau Mare but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sannicolau Mare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sannicolau Mare or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Sannicolau Mare 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, Sannicolau Mare or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Sannicolau Mare 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 Sannicolau Mare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sannicolau Mare vs other spots: cost of living compared