๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,696 in ล kofja Loka versus $1,261 in Phuket.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,567 in ล kofja Loka versus $2,286 in Phuket.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,438 in ล kofja Loka versus $3,310 in Phuket.
๐Living in ล kofja Loka is roughly 34% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: ล kofja Loka is 26% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
ล kofja Loka
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.92โฌ11.99
$4.56เธฟ149
205.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.8โฌ50.7
$46.63เธฟ1,519
26.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.15โฌ7.88
$8.47เธฟ276
8.03%
Cappuccino
$2.64โฌ2.28
$3.03เธฟ98.6
-12.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11โฌ2.68
$0.69เธฟ22.45
350.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00โฌ1.72
$0.37เธฟ11.92
440.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43โฌ2.95
$2.49เธฟ81.0
37.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57โฌ3.94
$3.66เธฟ119
24.86%
๐ Groceries & Markets
ล kofja Loka
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31โฌ1.13
$2.18เธฟ71.0
-39.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67โฌ1.44
$1.90เธฟ62.0
-12.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.78โฌ2.40
$2.20เธฟ71.6
26.36%
Eggs
$3.40โฌ2.93
$2.22เธฟ72.4
53.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.86โฌ16.25
$19.99เธฟ651
-5.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.22โฌ8.80
$3.66เธฟ119
179.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.72โฌ13.55
$13.25เธฟ432
18.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.01โฌ1.73
$3.23เธฟ105
-37.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71โฌ1.47
$1.70เธฟ55.3
0.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23โฌ1.92
$2.39เธฟ78.0
-6.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.52โฌ3.03
$2.08เธฟ67.7
69.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38โฌ1.19
$1.59เธฟ51.8
-13.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61โฌ1.39
$1.48เธฟ48.31
8.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66โฌ1.43
$1.03เธฟ33.54
61.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00โฌ0.86
$0.52เธฟ16.83
92.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90โฌ5.09
$4.25เธฟ138
38.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.81โฌ5.87
$18.79เธฟ612
-63.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45โฌ1.25
$1.76เธฟ57.2
-17.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00โฌ1.73
$2.76เธฟ89.8
-27.54%
๐ Getting Around
ล kofja Loka
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.44โฌ1.24
$1.36เธฟ44.32
5.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.00โฌ27.57
$11.36เธฟ370
181.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.77โฌ1.53
$3.14เธฟ102
-43.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11โฌ0.96
$1.04เธฟ33.74
6.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.70โฌ16.97
$13.77เธฟ448
43.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.66โฌ1.43
$1.34เธฟ43.79
23.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.6Kโฌ22.1K
$27.7Kเธฟ901.4K
-7.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0Kโฌ25.0K
$33.9Kเธฟ1.1M
-14.35%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
ล kofja Loka
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$287โฌ247
$124เธฟ4,025
132.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.68โฌ12.65
$13.52เธฟ440
8.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.26โฌ32.97
$18.69เธฟ609
104.71%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
ล kofja Loka
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.8โฌ43.79
$61.8เธฟ2,013
-17.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25เธฟ562
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.30โฌ7.15
$9.14เธฟ298
-9.19%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
ล kofja Loka
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$514โฌ443
$703เธฟ22.9K
-26.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,589โฌ7,400
$15.9Kเธฟ517.0K
-45.89%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
ล kofja Loka
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$115โฌ99.4
$59.5เธฟ1,937
94.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.14โฌ38.89
$35.07เธฟ1,142
28.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$119โฌ103
$115เธฟ3,754
3.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141โฌ121
$84.1เธฟ2,737
67.33%
๐ Accommodation & Living
ล kofja Loka
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$675โฌ582
$619เธฟ20.1K
9.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$534โฌ460
$433เธฟ14.1K
23.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,132โฌ975
$2,062เธฟ67.2K
-45.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$946โฌ815
$1,511เธฟ49.2K
-37.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,251โฌ2,801
$3,646เธฟ118.7K
-10.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,706โฌ3,193
$2,626เธฟ85.5K
41.14%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
ล kofja Loka
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$507เธฟ16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.65
5.33
-31.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for ล kofja Loka: June 9, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $675 in ล kofja Loka and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $59.0 in ล kofja Loka vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 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
ล kofja Loka vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than ล kofja Loka?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,543 in ล kofja Loka and $1,892 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 ล kofja Loka and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $675 in ล kofja Loka versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $514 in ล kofja Loka versus $703 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 ล kofja Loka and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in ล kofja Loka. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for ล kofja Loka or Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,696 in ล kofja Loka, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in ล kofja Loka. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is ล kofja Loka or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in ล kofja Loka, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, ล kofja Loka or Phuket?
Safety-wise, ล kofja Loka 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 โ expenses run 34% less than in ล kofja Loka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
ล kofja Loka vs other spots: cost of living compared