Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sousse and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Sousse: $779 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sousse
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$779
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sousse and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sousse and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Sousse versus $1,208 in Phuket.

  • Sousse $779
  • Phuket $1,208

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,261 in Sousse versus $2,027 in Phuket.

  • Sousse $1,261
  • Phuket $2,027

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,743 in Sousse versus $2,845 in Phuket.

  • Sousse $1,743
  • Phuket $2,845

Living in Sousse costs roughly 36% less than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sousse 43% lower, Phuket 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sousse
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.90 TND 14.67
$4.40 ฿147
11.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.60 TND 70.7
$32.26 ฿1,078
-26.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.75 TND 20.22
$8.76 ฿293
-22.95%
Cappuccino
$1.10 TND 3.29
$2.83 ฿94.5
-61.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 TND 2.19
$0.90 ฿30.14
-18.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 TND 1.12
$0.47 ฿15.56
-19.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 TND 5.14
$2.55 ฿85.2
-32.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 TND 4.98
$3.83 ฿128
-56.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sousse
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.44 TND 1.32
$1.73 ฿57.7
-74.57%
White Bread (500g)
$0.13 TND 0.40
$1.47 ฿49.11
-91.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 TND 3.71
$1.51 ฿50.6
-17.88%
Eggs
$1.61 TND 4.82
$2.17 ฿72.7
-25.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.70 TND 41.05
$19.70 ฿658
-30.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 TND 17.37
$3.34 ฿112
73.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.98 TND 41.87
$11.16 ฿373
25.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.02 TND 6.05
$2.85 ฿95.1
-29.12%
Banana (1kg)
$3.49 TND 10.46
$1.70 ฿56.9
105.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 TND 3.07
$2.19 ฿73.3
-53.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.06
$2.05 ฿68.4
-66.34%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 TND 2.62
$1.45 ฿48.57
-40.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.05
$1.38 ฿46.16
-50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 TND 1.30
$1.07 ฿35.69
-59.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 TND 0.97
$0.51 ฿16.91
-35.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76 TND 11.25
$4.26 ฿142
-11.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.98 TND 17.90
$18.58 ฿621
-67.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 TND 3.08
$1.78 ฿59.7
-42.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 TND 3.39
$2.85 ฿95.2
-60.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Sousse
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.99
$2.26 ฿75.6
-85.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.88 TND 29.60
$22.10 ฿738
-55.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.34 TND 1.03
$3.01 ฿101
-88.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 TND 2.08
$1.06 ฿35.34
-34.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.00 TND 11.98
$3.86 ฿129
3.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 TND 2.43
$1.45 ฿48.45
-44.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3K TND 120.6K
$26.3K ฿879.9K
52.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K TND 110.1K
$26.9K ฿900.4K
36.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sousse
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.1 TND 225
$96.4 ฿3,221
-22.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 TND 40.97
$11.04 ฿369
23.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.58 TND 58.6
$17.14 ฿573
14.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sousse
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.10 TND 84.2
$52.2 ฿1,744
-46.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 TND 78.8
$11.16 ฿373
135.66%
Cinema Ticket
$6.54 TND 19.59
$7.81 ฿261
-16.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sousse
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.6 TND 277
$556 ฿18.6K
-83.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,228 TND 9,667
$11.6K ฿387.0K
-72.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sousse
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6 TND 158
$64.2 ฿2,146
-18.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.9 TND 212
$28.69 ฿959
146.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$149 TND 447
$95.4 ฿3,187
56.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.4 TND 298
$88.0 ฿2,940
13.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sousse
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$241 TND 721
$737 ฿24.6K
-67.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$161 TND 483
$462 ฿15.5K
-65.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$512 TND 1,533
$2,095 ฿70.0K
-75.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 TND 1,037
$1,201 ฿40.1K
-71.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$978 TND 2,929
$3,488 ฿116.6K
-71.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$621 TND 1,859
$2,523 ฿84.3K
-75.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sousse
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$380 TND 1,139
$501 ฿16.7K
-24.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.4
5.57
104.67%

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

Last update for Sousse: October 20, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Sousse
$197
Phuket
$269 36.5% $72
Clothing & Footwear
Sousse
$167
Phuket
$124 25.8% $43
Accommodation & Living
Sousse
$161
Phuket
$462 187% $301
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sousse
$108
Phuket
$125 14.9% $16
Eating Out
Sousse
$89
Phuket
$121 36.3% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Sousse
$41
Phuket
$68 64.6% $27
Getting Around
Sousse
$15
Phuket
$39 163% $24

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Sousse and $737 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 32% 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: $24.00 in Sousse vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $269 per month, with Sousse cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇳 Sousse
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
16:15 4:15 PM
22:15 10:15 PM
6 h ahead of Sousse
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
221,530
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to TND – Tunisian Dinar Converter

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.334 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 TND (1 TND = 0.297 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sousse Phuket 9,290 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sousse
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Sousse vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Sousse?
Sousse is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sousse or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Phuket. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Sousse and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $241 in Sousse versus $737 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $92.6 in Sousse versus $556 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 Sousse and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Sousse or in Phuket?
At $779 in Sousse versus $1,208 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sousse but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sousse the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sousse or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Sousse 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, Sousse or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Sousse 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 Sousse gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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