Cost of Living Comparison Between Suji-gu and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Suji-gu and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,477 in Suji-gu versus $1,261 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,347 in Suji-gu versus $2,286 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,217 in Suji-gu versus $3,310 in Phuket.
😐Living in Suji-gu is roughly 17% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Suji-gu is 10% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Suji-gu
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.93₩13.6K
$4.56฿149
95.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.0₩82.0K
$46.63฿1,519
15.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.24₩9,480
$8.47฿276
-26.33%
Cappuccino
$3.95₩6,000
$3.03฿98.6
30.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73₩2,621
$0.69฿22.45
150.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84₩1,278
$0.37฿11.92
127.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.58₩5,432
$2.49฿81.0
43.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75₩8,724
$3.66฿119
57.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Suji-gu
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17₩3,303
$2.18฿71.0
-0.46%
White Bread(500g)
$3.40₩5,165
$1.90฿62.0
78.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.12₩4,738
$2.20฿71.6
41.82%
Eggs
$3.10₩4,701
$2.22฿72.4
39.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.35₩21.8K
$19.99฿651
-28.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.93₩16.6K
$3.66฿119
198.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$34.47₩52.3K
$13.25฿432
160.15%
Apples(1kg)
$7.76₩11.8K
$3.23฿105
140.25%
Banana(1kg)
$3.51₩5,324
$1.70฿55.3
106.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.71₩8,673
$2.39฿78.0
138.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.60₩10.0K
$2.08฿67.7
217.31%
Potato(1kg)
$3.96₩6,008
$1.59฿51.8
149.06%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87₩4,359
$1.48฿48.31
93.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61₩3,966
$1.03฿33.54
153.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21₩1,835
$0.52฿16.83
132.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23₩4,907
$4.25฿138
-24.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.48₩25.0K
$18.79฿612
-12.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45₩3,720
$1.76฿57.2
39.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33₩5,052
$2.76฿89.8
20.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Suji-gu
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06₩1,615
$1.36฿44.32
-22.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.36฿370
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.60₩5,474
$3.14฿102
14.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53₩812
$1.04฿33.74
-49.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.83₩13.4K
$13.77฿448
-35.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.20₩1,816
$1.34฿43.79
-10.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K₩41.7M
$27.7K฿901.4K
-0.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0K₩37.9M
$33.9K฿1.1M
-26.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Suji-gu
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$165₩250.9K
$124฿4,025
33.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.62₩52.6K
$13.52฿440
156.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.45₩34.1K
$18.69฿609
20.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Suji-gu
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.23₩73.2K
$61.8฿2,013
-21.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.13₩16.9K
$9.14฿298
21.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Suji-gu
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$415₩630.9K
$703฿22.9K
-40.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.3K₩35.3M
$15.9K฿517.0K
46.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Suji-gu
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5₩90.4K
$59.5฿1,937
0.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.81₩71.1K
$35.07฿1,142
33.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.0₩120.0K
$115฿3,754
-31.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115₩174.7K
$84.1฿2,737
36.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Suji-gu
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$446₩677.3K
$619฿20.1K
-27.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$383₩581.4K
$433฿14.1K
-11.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,064₩1.6M
$2,062฿67.2K
-48.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₩1.2M
$1,511฿49.2K
-49.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,854₩15.0M
$3,646฿118.7K
170.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,534₩8.4M
$2,626฿85.5K
110.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Suji-gu
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$970₩1.5M
$507฿16.5K
91.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.14
5.33
-22.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Suji-gu: June 8, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $446 in Suji-gu and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Suji-gu pays 91% 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: $54.0 in Suji-gu vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $492 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
Suji-gu vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Suji-gu?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Suji-gu or Phuket?
Suji-gu pays 91% 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 Suji-gu and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $446 in Suji-gu 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 $415 in Suji-gu versus $703 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Suji-gu or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $54.0 in Suji-gu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Suji-gu or Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,477 in Suji-gu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Suji-gu. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Suji-gu or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Suji-gu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Suji-gu or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Suji-gu 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 17% less than in Suji-gu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.