Cost of Living Comparison Between TamΓ‘si and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between TamΓ‘si and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,025 in TamΓ‘si versus $1,261 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,585 in TamΓ‘si versus $2,286 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,145 in TamΓ‘si versus $3,310 in Phuket.
πLiving in TamΓ‘si costs roughly 19% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: TamΓ‘si24% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
TamΓ‘si
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.67FtΒ 2,365
$4.56ΰΈΏ150
68.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.89FtΒ 14.2K
$46.63ΰΈΏ1,535
-1.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63FtΒ 1,736
$8.47ΰΈΏ279
-33.53%
Cappuccino
$2.06FtΒ 636
$3.03ΰΈΏ99.7
-32.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49FtΒ 460
$0.69ΰΈΏ22.69
115.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39FtΒ 428
$0.37ΰΈΏ12.04
275.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27FtΒ 700
$2.49ΰΈΏ81.9
-8.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12FtΒ 653
$3.66ΰΈΏ120
-42.08%
π Groceries & Markets
TamΓ‘si
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05FtΒ 324
$2.18ΰΈΏ71.8
-51.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.60FtΒ 494
$1.90ΰΈΏ62.6
-15.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18FtΒ 364
$2.20ΰΈΏ72.4
-46.36%
Eggs
$2.04FtΒ 628
$2.22ΰΈΏ73.2
-8.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.70FtΒ 2,375
$19.99ΰΈΏ658
-61.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.65FtΒ 1,744
$3.66ΰΈΏ121
54.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.26FtΒ 3,473
$13.25ΰΈΏ436
-15.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.37FtΒ 422
$3.23ΰΈΏ106
-57.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41FtΒ 434
$1.70ΰΈΏ55.9
-17.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75FtΒ 538
$2.39ΰΈΏ78.8
-26.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.77FtΒ 855
$2.08ΰΈΏ68.4
33.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.96FtΒ 296
$1.59ΰΈΏ52.4
-39.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19FtΒ 366
$1.48ΰΈΏ48.83
-19.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.43FtΒ 441
$1.03ΰΈΏ33.90
38.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48FtΒ 148
$0.52ΰΈΏ17.01
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36FtΒ 1,962
$4.25ΰΈΏ140
49.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.16FtΒ 1,284
$18.79ΰΈΏ618
-77.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92FtΒ 285
$1.76ΰΈΏ57.8
-47.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46FtΒ 450
$2.76ΰΈΏ90.8
-47.10%
π Getting Around
TamΓ‘si
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18FtΒ 364
$1.36ΰΈΏ44.79
-13.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.37FtΒ 7,823
$11.36ΰΈΏ374
123.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.88FtΒ 887
$3.14ΰΈΏ103
-8.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29FtΒ 398
$1.04ΰΈΏ34.10
24.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.46FtΒ 5,385
$13.77ΰΈΏ453
26.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68FtΒ 519
$1.34ΰΈΏ44.26
25.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KFtΒ 8.1M
$27.7KΰΈΏ911.1K
-5.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3KFtΒ 7.8M
$33.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
-25.41%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
TamΓ‘si
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105FtΒ 32.3K
$124ΰΈΏ4,069
-15.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.87FtΒ 7,669
$13.52ΰΈΏ445
83.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.41FtΒ 4,136
$18.69ΰΈΏ615
-28.25%
π Sport & Entertainment
TamΓ‘si
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.78FtΒ 14.4K
$61.8ΰΈΏ2,035
-24.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.60FtΒ 5,119
$17.25ΰΈΏ568
-3.77%
Cinema Ticket
$6.98FtΒ 2,151
$9.14ΰΈΏ301
-23.63%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
TamΓ‘si
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$223FtΒ 68.7K
$703ΰΈΏ23.1K
-68.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,210FtΒ 1.9M
$15.9KΰΈΏ522.5K
-60.87%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
TamΓ‘si
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.9FtΒ 25.6K
$59.5ΰΈΏ1,958
39.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.76FtΒ 9,177
$35.07ΰΈΏ1,154
-15.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.5FtΒ 21.4K
$115ΰΈΏ3,795
-39.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.1FtΒ 17.9K
$84.1ΰΈΏ2,767
-30.93%
π Accommodation & Living
TamΓ‘si
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$451FtΒ 139.0K
$619ΰΈΏ20.4K
-27.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339FtΒ 104.6K
$433ΰΈΏ14.2K
-21.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$633FtΒ 195.3K
$2,062ΰΈΏ67.9K
-69.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$539FtΒ 166.3K
$1,511ΰΈΏ49.7K
-64.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,333FtΒ 1.0M
$3,646ΰΈΏ120.0K
-8.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,104FtΒ 648.9K
$2,626ΰΈΏ86.4K
-19.85%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
TamΓ‘si
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,251FtΒ 385.6K
$507ΰΈΏ16.7K
146.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.85
5.33
9.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for TamΓ‘si: June 6, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $451 in TamΓ‘si and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°TamΓ‘si pays 147% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $46.00 in TamΓ‘si vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $293 per month, with TamΓ‘si 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
TamΓ‘si vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than TamΓ‘si?
TamΓ‘si is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: TamΓ‘si or Phuket?
TamΓ‘si pays 147% 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 TamΓ‘si and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $451 in TamΓ‘si 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 $223 in TamΓ‘si 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 TamΓ‘si and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for TamΓ‘si or Phuket?
At $1,025 in TamΓ‘si versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in TamΓ‘si but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes TamΓ‘si the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is TamΓ‘si or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, TamΓ‘si 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, TamΓ‘si or Phuket?
Safety-wise, TamΓ‘si 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 TamΓ‘si gentler on the wallet β expenses run 23% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.