Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between South Korea and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,190 a month against $1,543 in South Korea, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

76

Cost of Living Index in South Korea
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South Korea Living Index
59

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
Learn more

Phuket Living Index

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🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,543

/mo nomad

Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,190

/mo nomad

😐 Solo nomad: South Korea is 41.3% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 29.7% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: South Korea is 44.5% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 22.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.67 ₩10.3K

$4.35 ฿146

76.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.23 ₩60.6K

$32.45 ฿1,087

39.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.43 ₩8,617

$8.42 ฿282

-23.63%

Cappuccino

$3.92 ₩5,254

$2.81 ฿94.0

39.50%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₩2,194

$0.87 ฿29.29

88.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₩1,115

$0.46 ฿15.39

80.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.63 ₩4,863

$2.59 ฿86.6

40.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 ₩6,098

$3.64 ฿122

25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.09 ₩2,804

$1.71 ฿57.2

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$3.02 ₩4,051

$1.45 ฿48.42

108.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.38 ₩4,534

$1.56 ฿52.3

116.67%

Eggs

$3.22 ₩4,311

$2.10 ฿70.3

53.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.53 ₩18.1K

$19.53 ฿654

-30.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.81 ₩11.8K

$3.40 ฿114

159.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.06 ₩34.9K

$11.14 ฿373

133.93%

Apples (1kg)

$8.59 ₩11.5K

$2.83 ฿94.8

203.53%

Banana (1kg)

$3.38 ₩4,535

$1.62 ฿54.3

108.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.23 ₩8,345

$2.22 ฿74.5

180.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.09 ₩8,166

$2.15 ฿71.9

183.26%

Potato (1kg)

$3.97 ₩5,319

$1.49 ฿49.95

166.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.72 ₩3,645

$1.33 ฿44.40

104.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.60 ₩3,484

$1.07 ฿35.72

142.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₩1,608

$0.51 ฿17.01

135.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.38 ₩4,531

$4.38 ฿147

-22.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.90 ₩21.3K

$18.77 ฿629

-15.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₩2,706

$1.74 ฿58.3

16.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 ₩3,866

$2.78 ฿92.9

3.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.14 ₩1,529

$2.17 ฿72.6

-47.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.85 ₩62.8K

$22.28 ฿746

110.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 ₩4,599

$3.02 ฿101

13.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₩860

$1.06 ฿35.43

-39.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.10 ₩12.2K

$3.71 ฿124

145.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 ₩1,852

$1.43 ฿47.88

-3.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.8K ₩39.9M

$26.3K ฿882.1K

12.99%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.9K ₩40.1M

$26.2K ฿877.3K

14.12%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$206 ₩275.7K

$96.7 ฿3,236

112.85%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$39.21 ₩52.5K

$11.41 ฿382

243.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.22 ₩31.1K

$17.11 ฿573

35.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 ₩70.7K

$52.8 ฿1,768

-0.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.59 ₩22.2K

$11.07 ฿371

49.86%

Cinema Ticket

$10.99 ₩14.7K

$7.65 ฿256

43.66%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$906 ₩1.2M

$555 ฿18.6K

63.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.3K ₩31.2M

$11.3K ฿377.7K

106.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 ₩76.0K

$63.4 ฿2,123

-10.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.14 ₩57.8K

$28.61 ฿958

50.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 ₩106.6K

$96.7 ฿3,238

-17.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.1 ₩128.8K

$88.6 ฿2,967

8.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 ₩794.3K

$735 ฿24.6K

-19.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$423 ₩566.8K

$458 ฿15.3K

-7.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,531 ₩2.1M

$2,102 ฿70.4K

-27.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$922 ₩1.2M

$1,187 ฿39.7K

-22.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.5K ₩22.1M

$3,493 ฿116.9K

371.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,341 ₩11.2M

$2,491 ฿83.4K

234.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,293 ₩3.1M

$501 ฿16.8K

357.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.23

5.57

-24.06%

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

Last update for South Korea: October 4, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

South Korea

$449 28.7%

Phuket

$268 22.3% 40.3% $181

Accommodation & Living

South Korea

$423 27.1%

Phuket

$458 38.1% 8.3% $35

Monthly Utilities & Internet

South Korea

$268 17.2%

Phuket

$125 10.4% 53.3% $143

Eating Out

South Korea

$165 10.6%

Phuket

$119 9.9% 27.6% $46

Clothing & Footwear

South Korea

$124 7.9%

Phuket

$125 10.4% 0.7% $0.8

Sport & Entertainment

South Korea

$75 4.8%

Phuket

$68 5.7% 8.9% $6.7

Getting Around

South Korea

$58 3.7%

Phuket

$39 3.3% 32.4% $19

Good to know

🇰🇷 South Korea

🇹🇭 Phuket

🕒 Local time

23:15 11:15 PM

21:15 9:15 PM

2 h behind South Korea

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

51,466,201

79,308

💱 Currency

South Korean Won KRW ₩

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD

10,000 KRW = 6.66 EUR

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇰🇷 South Korean Won (₩)

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,340 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,502 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.66 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

USD to KRW in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

South Korea Phuket 4,380 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight

From you

South Korea
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

South Korea vs other spots: cost of living compared

Cost of Living Comparison Between South Korea and Phuket

THB, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

South Korea

Phuket

South Korea

Phuket

South Korea vs other spots: cost of living compared

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