Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Moritz and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Moritz and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,847 in St. Moritz versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,534 in St. Moritz versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $9,221 in St. Moritz versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in St. Moritz is roughly 205% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: St. Moritz is 186% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St. Moritz
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.18 CHF 24.75
$4.56 ฿149
583.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$146 CHF 116
$46.63 ฿1,519
213.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.71 CHF 11.68
$8.47 ฿276
73.67%
Cappuccino
$6.27 CHF 4.98
$3.03 ฿98.6
106.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.48 CHF 4.35
$0.69 ฿22.45
694.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70 CHF 3.73
$0.37 ฿11.92
1170.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.73 CHF 7.73
$2.49 ฿81.0
290.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.05 CHF 4.81
$3.66 ฿119
65.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St. Moritz
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 CHF 1.06
$2.18 ฿71.0
-38.99%
White Bread (500g)
$3.40 CHF 2.70
$1.90 ฿62.0
78.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.94 CHF 3.13
$2.20 ฿71.6
79.09%
Eggs
$7.46 CHF 5.92
$2.22 ฿72.4
236.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$29.03 CHF 23.05
$19.99 ฿651
45.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$33.94 CHF 26.95
$3.66 ฿119
827.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$50.8 CHF 40.32
$13.25 ฿432
283.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 CHF 3.29
$3.23 ฿105
28.17%
Banana (1kg)
$2.91 CHF 2.31
$1.70 ฿55.3
71.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.15 CHF 2.50
$2.39 ฿78.0
31.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 CHF 4.01
$2.08 ฿67.7
142.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 CHF 2.17
$1.59 ฿51.8
71.70%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 CHF 1.82
$1.48 ฿48.31
54.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.58 CHF 2.05
$1.03 ฿33.54
150.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 CHF 1.33
$0.52 ฿16.83
221.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.28 CHF 8.95
$4.25 ฿138
165.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.82 CHF 11.76
$18.79 ฿612
-21.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.64 CHF 2.09
$1.76 ฿57.2
50.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 CHF 2.56
$2.76 ฿89.8
16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
St. Moritz
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.04 CHF 3.21
$1.36 ฿44.32
197.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$95.2 CHF 75.6
$11.36 ฿370
737.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$7.52 CHF 5.97
$3.14 ฿102
139.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.54 CHF 3.61
$1.04 ฿33.74
336.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$86.3 CHF 68.5
$13.77 ฿448
526.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.27 CHF 1.80
$1.34 ฿43.79
69.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.0K CHF 31.8K
$27.7K ฿901.4K
44.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.8K CHF 31.6K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
17.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St. Moritz
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.5 CHF 78.2
$124 ฿4,025
-20.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.59 CHF 28.25
$13.52 ฿440
163.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.2 CHF 46.98
$18.69 ฿609
216.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St. Moritz
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.5 CHF 58.3
$61.8 ฿2,013
18.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25 ฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$19.41 CHF 15.41
$9.14 ฿298
112.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
St. Moritz
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,408 CHF 2,705
$703 ฿22.9K
384.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.5K CHF 30.6K
$15.9K ฿517.0K
142.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St. Moritz
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$141 CHF 112
$59.5 ฿1,937
137.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.3 CHF 48.69
$35.07 ฿1,142
74.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$147 CHF 117
$115 ฿3,754
27.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$205 CHF 163
$84.1 ฿2,737
143.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St. Moritz
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,699 CHF 1,348
$619 ฿20.1K
174.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,955 CHF 1,552
$433 ฿14.1K
352.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,868 CHF 2,277
$2,062 ฿67.2K
39.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,615 CHF 3,664
$1,511 ฿49.2K
205.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.0K CHF 11.9K
$3,646 ฿118.7K
310.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.6K CHF 9,221
$2,626 ฿85.5K
342.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
St. Moritz
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,973 CHF 3,948
$507 ฿16.5K
880.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.8
5.33
-66.23%

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

Last update for St. Moritz: June 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,699 in St. Moritz and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

St. Moritz pays 881% 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: $146 in St. Moritz vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $670 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
St. Moritz vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than St. Moritz?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 205% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: St. Moritz or Phuket?
St. Moritz pays 881% more on average, 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 St. Moritz and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,699 in St. Moritz 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 $3,408 in St. Moritz 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 St. Moritz and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 129% higher in St. Moritz. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for St. Moritz or Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $3,847 in St. Moritz, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in St. Moritz. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is St. Moritz or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in St. Moritz, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, St. Moritz or Phuket?
Safety-wise, St. Moritz 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 205% less than in St. Moritz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

St. Moritz vs other spots: cost of living compared

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