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: $483 in Tartus versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $760 in Tartus versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,037 in Tartus versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Tartus costs roughly 61% 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
$6.18 SYP 751
$4.55 ฿153
35.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.98 SYP 3,400
$46.18 ฿1,554
-39.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.51 SYP 670
$8.84 ฿298
-37.67%
Cappuccino
$0.78 SYP 94.8
$3.06 ฿103
-74.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 SYP 137
$0.73 ฿24.42
53.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 SYP 83.5
$0.40 ฿13.40
72.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.64 SYP 200
$2.43 ฿81.8
-32.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 SYP 299
$3.78 ฿127
-34.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 SYP 122
$2.26 ฿76.0
-55.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.63 SYP 76.2
$1.81 ฿60.9
-65.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 SYP 186
$2.25 ฿75.8
-32.00%
Eggs
$1.40 SYP 170
$2.25 ฿75.6
-37.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.10 SYP 377
$19.51 ฿656
-84.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.52 SYP 914
$3.65 ฿123
106.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.10 SYP 985
$13.05 ฿439
-37.93%
Apples (1kg)
$0.93 SYP 113
$3.23 ฿109
-71.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 SYP 149
$1.62 ฿54.4
-24.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 SYP 120
$2.38 ฿80.2
-58.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.96 SYP 117
$2.03 ฿68.2
-52.71%
Potato (1kg)
$0.62 SYP 75.6
$1.53 ฿51.6
-59.48%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 SYP 81.4
$1.50 ฿50.5
-55.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 SYP 45.97
$0.98 ฿32.93
-61.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 SYP 74.2
$0.52 ฿17.40
17.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 SYP 373
$4.44 ฿149
-30.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.07 SYP 981
$18.32 ฿616
-55.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 SYP 123
$1.86 ฿62.7
-45.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 SYP 215
$2.68 ฿90.2
-33.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.41 ฿47.49
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.70 ฿394
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.63 SYP 76.1
$3.11 ฿105
-79.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 SYP 155
$1.04 ฿35.08
23.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.35 SYP 772
$14.11 ฿475
-55.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 SYP 142
$1.31 ฿44.13
-10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K SYP 2.3M
$27.8K ฿936.0K
-33.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K SYP 2.6M
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-36.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 SYP 12.2K
$122 ฿4,120
-17.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.37 SYP 1,017
$13.59 ฿457
-38.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.08 SYP 4,262
$18.70 ฿629
87.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.14 SYP 1,475
$60.5 ฿2,035
-79.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.98 ฿572
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.09 SYP 375
$9.07 ฿305
-65.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$43.00 SYP 5,225
$706 ฿23.8K
-93.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,813 SYP 220.3K
$15.8K ฿531.8K
-88.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.63 SYP 2,386
$58.6 ฿1,970
-66.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.73 SYP 3,127
$35.36 ฿1,190
-27.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.53 SYP 5,532
$115 ฿3,885
-60.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.56 SYP 4,807
$83.7 ฿2,818
-52.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$101 SYP 12.2K
$626 ฿21.1K
-83.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$445 ฿15.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,040 ฿68.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,483 ฿117.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$50.2 SYP 6,094
$500 ฿16.8K
-89.97%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $101 in Tartus and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 897% 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: $28.00 in Tartus vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $289 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 159% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tartus or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 897% lower in Phuket. 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: $101 in Tartus 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 $43.00 in Tartus versus $706 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 in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Tartus – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tartus or in Phuket?
At $483 in Tartus versus $1,250 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 159% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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