Cost of Living Comparison Between Tartus and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Tartus and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $481 in Tartus versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $740 in Tartus versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in Tartus versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Tartus costs roughly 62% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tartus 64% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.05 SYP 669
$4.70 ฿153
28.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.02 SYP 2,986
$45.37 ฿1,482
-40.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.38 SYP 594
$8.43 ฿275
-36.18%
Cappuccino
$0.76 SYP 84.4
$2.93 ฿95.6
-74.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 SYP 126
$0.69 ฿22.40
65.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 SYP 79.2
$0.37 ฿11.99
94.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 SYP 172
$2.41 ฿78.6
-35.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 SYP 272
$3.72 ฿122
-33.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 SYP 111
$2.23 ฿72.9
-55.16%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 SYP 64.2
$1.83 ฿59.8
-68.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 SYP 169
$2.17 ฿70.8
-29.49%
Eggs
$1.36 SYP 150
$2.21 ฿72.3
-38.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.13 SYP 346
$19.74 ฿645
-84.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.69 SYP 850
$3.63 ฿119
111.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.93 SYP 876
$13.53 ฿442
-41.39%
Apples (1kg)
$0.87 SYP 95.8
$3.28 ฿107
-73.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 SYP 137
$1.61 ฿52.6
-22.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 SYP 114
$2.41 ฿78.6
-57.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.95 SYP 104
$2.08 ฿68.1
-54.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.63 SYP 69.4
$1.53 ฿49.93
-58.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 SYP 73.0
$1.48 ฿48.36
-55.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 SYP 41.94
$0.99 ฿32.29
-61.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 SYP 68.3
$0.51 ฿16.67
21.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.04 SYP 336
$4.41 ฿144
-31.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.80 SYP 640
$19.38 ฿633
-70.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 SYP 108
$1.78 ฿58.1
-44.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 SYP 202
$2.71 ฿88.6
-32.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.37 ฿44.79
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.39 ฿372
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.62 SYP 69.0
$3.02 ฿98.6
-79.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 SYP 134
$0.99 ฿32.48
23.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.58 SYP 727
$14.10 ฿461
-53.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 SYP 131
$1.36 ฿44.51
-13.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.5K SYP 2.0M
$28.2K ฿921.1K
-34.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K SYP 2.3M
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-36.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 SYP 11.3K
$122 ฿3,975
-16.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.44 SYP 933
$13.57 ฿443
-37.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.28 SYP 3,898
$18.31 ฿598
92.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$11.96 SYP 1,322
$60.2 ฿1,967
-80.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14 ฿560
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.04 SYP 336
$8.69 ฿284
-65.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$43.54 SYP 4,811
$693 ฿22.6K
-93.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,838 SYP 203.1K
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-88.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.10 SYP 2,221
$59.5 ฿1,944
-66.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.63 SYP 2,832
$34.77 ฿1,136
-26.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.41 SYP 5,018
$115 ฿3,743
-60.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.25 SYP 4,447
$83.3 ฿2,720
-51.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$98.8 SYP 10.9K
$613 ฿20.0K
-83.89%
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
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$50.8 SYP 5,607
$508 ฿16.6K
-90.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.75
5.33
157.97%

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

Last update for Tartus: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $98.8 in Tartus and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 901% 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: $27.00 in Tartus vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $152 vs $293 per month, with Tartus cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Tartus vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Tartus?
Tartus is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 163% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tartus or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 901% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Tartus and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $98.8 in Tartus versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $43.54 in Tartus 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 Tartus or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Tartus – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tartus or Phuket?
At $481 in Tartus versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tartus but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tartus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tartus or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Tartus 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, Tartus or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Tartus 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 Tartus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tartus vs other spots: cost of living compared

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