🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $647 in Tamarisi versus $1,265 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,085 in Tamarisi versus $2,297 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,522 in Tamarisi versus $3,329 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Tamarisi costs roughly 49% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tamarisi52% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tamarisi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.96
$4.70฿153
132.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.27₾115
$45.37฿1,482
-4.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.59₾22.82
$8.43฿275
1.90%
Cappuccino
$3.09₾8.20
$2.93฿95.6
5.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75₾1.99
$0.69฿22.40
8.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.12
$0.37฿11.99
13.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.23₾5.92
$2.41฿78.6
-7.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96₾7.87
$3.72฿122
-20.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tamarisi
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.98₾5.26
$2.23฿72.9
-11.21%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71₾1.89
$1.83฿59.8
-61.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87₾4.97
$2.17฿70.8
-13.82%
Eggs
$2.49₾6.62
$2.21฿72.3
12.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.43₾19.73
$19.74฿645
-62.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.43₾17.06
$3.63฿119
77.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.31₾24.72
$13.53฿442
-31.19%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22₾3.24
$3.28฿107
-62.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57₾4.16
$1.61฿52.6
-2.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.98
$2.41฿78.6
-21.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24₾5.95
$2.08฿68.1
7.69%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66₾1.75
$1.53฿49.93
-56.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.71
$1.48฿48.36
-56.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23₾3.28
$0.99฿32.29
24.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₾1.77
$0.51฿16.67
29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₾7.76
$4.41฿144
-33.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.76₾9.99
$19.38฿633
-80.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57₾4.18
$1.78฿58.1
-11.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31₾6.13
$2.71฿88.6
-14.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Tamarisi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.37฿44.79
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.39฿372
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.50₾3.99
$3.02฿98.6
-50.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73₾1.94
$0.99฿32.48
-26.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.48₾19.85
$14.10฿461
-46.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10₾2.91
$1.36฿44.51
-19.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K₾49.2K
$28.2K฿921.1K
-34.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K₾52.7K
$32.9K฿1.1M
-39.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tamarisi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7₾196
$122฿3,975
-39.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.73₾31.16
$13.57฿443
-13.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54₾46.57
$18.31฿598
-4.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tamarisi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.2฿1,967
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14฿560
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.69₾17.76
$8.69฿284
-23.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tamarisi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$262₾697
$693฿22.6K
-62.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,217₾13.9K
$15.7K฿512.3K
-66.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tamarisi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.6₾206
$59.5฿1,944
30.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.90₾119
$34.77฿1,136
29.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾315
$115฿3,743
3.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110₾292
$83.3฿2,720
31.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tamarisi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$613฿20.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$437฿14.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,094฿68.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,509฿49.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,749฿122.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,616฿85.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tamarisi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$508฿16.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
5.33
123.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tamarisi: May 30, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tamarisi vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $293 per month, with Tamarisi 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
Tamarisi vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Tamarisi?
Tamarisi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 95% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $971 in Tamarisi and $1,898 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $262 in Tamarisi versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Tamarisi or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Tamarisi – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tamarisi or Phuket?
At $647 in Tamarisi versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tamarisi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tamarisi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tamarisi or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Tamarisi 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, Tamarisi or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Tamarisi 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 Tamarisi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.