😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,260 in Summerland versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,277 in Summerland versus $2,284 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,294 in Summerland versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Summerland is roughly 81% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Summerland is 69% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Summerland
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.95CA$15.41
$4.55฿153
140.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.7CA$81.2
$46.18฿1,553
25.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.36CA$13.17
$8.84฿297
5.88%
Cappuccino
$3.61CA$5.08
$3.06฿103
17.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95CA$2.74
$0.73฿24.40
167.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46CA$2.06
$0.40฿13.39
265.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.19CA$8.71
$2.43฿81.8
154.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85CA$8.23
$3.78฿127
54.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Summerland
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.29CA$3.23
$2.26฿76.0
1.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67CA$3.76
$1.81฿60.9
47.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.41CA$6.20
$2.25฿75.8
96.00%
Eggs
$3.48CA$4.90
$2.25฿75.5
54.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.00CA$19.71
$19.51฿656
-28.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.94CA$16.80
$3.65฿123
227.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.32CA$27.19
$13.05฿439
48.05%
Apples(1kg)
$4.65CA$6.55
$3.23฿109
43.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14CA$1.60
$1.62฿54.4
-29.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.24CA$7.37
$2.38฿80.1
120.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.81CA$5.36
$2.03฿68.1
87.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.66CA$2.33
$1.53฿51.6
8.50%
Onion(1kg)
$3.07CA$4.32
$1.50฿50.5
104.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.71CA$3.81
$0.98฿32.91
176.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15CA$3.02
$0.52฿17.39
313.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$16.27CA$22.89
$4.44฿149
266.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.45CA$14.70
$18.32฿616
-42.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.20CA$5.91
$1.86฿62.7
125.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90CA$5.48
$2.68฿90.1
45.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Summerland
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36CA$3.32
$1.41฿47.46
67.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$62.0CA$87.3
$11.70฿393
430.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.69CA$5.20
$3.11฿105
18.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.66CA$2.34
$1.04฿35.06
59.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.07CA$36.68
$14.11฿474
84.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18CA$1.66
$1.31฿44.10
-9.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KCA$35.3K
$27.8K฿935.4K
-9.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2KCA$27.0K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-42.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Summerland
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115CA$162
$122฿4,118
-6.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.13CA$50.8
$13.59฿457
165.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.1CA$80.4
$18.70฿629
205.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Summerland
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.18CA$57.9
$60.5฿2,034
-31.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.98฿571
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.54CA$10.60
$9.07฿305
-16.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Summerland
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$548CA$772
$706฿23.8K
-22.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,074CA$11.4K
$15.8K฿531.5K
-48.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Summerland
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.55CA$66.9
$58.6฿1,969
-18.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.63CA$50.1
$35.36฿1,189
0.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.3CA$116
$115฿3,883
-28.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105CA$148
$83.7฿2,816
25.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Summerland
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,302CA$1,832
$626฿21.0K
108.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,155CA$1,625
$445฿15.0K
159.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,027CA$2,853
$2,040฿68.6K
-0.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,793CA$2,522
$1,492฿50.2K
20.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,769CA$6,710
$3,483฿117.1K
36.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,825CA$5,383
$2,577฿86.7K
48.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Summerland
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,422CA$4,816
$500฿16.8K
584.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.86
5.33
28.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Summerland: July 11, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,302 in Summerland and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Summerland pays 585% 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: $58.0 in Summerland vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $408 vs $289 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
Summerland vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Summerland?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Summerland or Phuket?
Average pay runs 585% higher in Summerland, 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 Summerland and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,302 in Summerland versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $548 in Summerland versus $706 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 Summerland and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Summerland. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Summerland or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,260 in Summerland, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Summerland. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Summerland or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Summerland, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Summerland or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Summerland 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 81% less than in Summerland. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Summerland vs other spots: cost of living compared