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: $637 in Tartus versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $990 in Tartus versus $2,054 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,344 in Tartus versus $2,876 in Phuket.

Living in Tartus costs roughly 48% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tartus 53% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.01 SYP 1,217
$4.41 ฿147
126.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.16 SYP 5,487
$32.26 ฿1,074
39.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.95 SYP 844
$8.93 ฿297
-22.17%
Cappuccino
$3.60 SYP 438
$2.90 ฿96.4
24.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 SYP 279
$0.88 ฿29.30
160.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 SYP 98.9
$0.48 ฿16.01
68.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.94 SYP 236
$2.35 ฿78.3
-17.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 SYP 359
$3.72 ฿124
-20.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.48 SYP 58.7
$1.87 ฿62.1
-74.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 SYP 50.2
$1.47 ฿48.81
-72.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 SYP 95.3
$1.55 ฿51.7
-49.68%
Eggs
$0.86 SYP 104
$2.10 ฿70.0
-59.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.83 SYP 466
$19.59 ฿652
-80.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 SYP 372
$3.42 ฿114
-10.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 SYP 1,647
$11.38 ฿379
19.16%
Apples (1kg)
$1.03 SYP 125
$2.98 ฿99.3
-65.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 SYP 167
$1.68 ฿56.1
-17.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.09 SYP 132
$2.21 ฿73.5
-50.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.22 SYP 26.60
$2.16 ฿72.0
-89.81%
Potato (1kg)
$0.22 SYP 26.60
$1.52 ฿50.8
-85.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.30 SYP 36.32
$1.34 ฿44.55
-77.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 SYP 48.53
$1.13 ฿37.57
-64.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 SYP 74.6
$0.55 ฿18.19
10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74 SYP 333
$4.26 ฿142
-35.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 SYP 732
$19.09 ฿635
-68.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 SYP 134
$1.78 ฿59.2
-38.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 SYP 347
$2.78 ฿92.6
2.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 SYP 39.34
$2.23 ฿74.2
-85.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.74 ฿757
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.99 SYP 120
$3.03 ฿101
-67.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 SYP 180
$1.02 ฿34.06
45.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 SYP 942
$3.89 ฿130
99.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$3.65 SYP 443
$1.49 ฿49.63
144.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.0K SYP 1.8M
$26.6K ฿884.9K
-43.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.8K SYP 2.3M
$27.0K ฿899.8K
-30.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$142 SYP 17.2K
$102 ฿3,411
38.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.67 SYP 1,175
$11.33 ฿377
-14.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.64 SYP 2,386
$17.40 ฿579
12.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$5.80 SYP 704
$52.1 ฿1,734
-88.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07 ฿369
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.45 SYP 663
$7.69 ฿256
-29.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$9.56 SYP 1,161
$561 ฿18.7K
-98.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,801 SYP 218.8K
$11.5K ฿383.0K
-84.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.69 SYP 1,420
$63.0 ฿2,098
-81.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.82 SYP 4,838
$29.52 ฿983
34.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.71 SYP 5,554
$98.0 ฿3,263
-53.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$15.29 SYP 1,857
$88.5 ฿2,946
-82.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$114 SYP 13.9K
$738 ฿24.6K
-84.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$76.3 SYP 9,268
$482 ฿16.1K
-84.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$233 SYP 28.4K
$2,107 ฿70.1K
-88.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 SYP 13.9K
$1,226 ฿40.8K
-90.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,617 ฿120.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,603 ฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tartus
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$50.7 SYP 6,164
$494 ฿16.4K
-89.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.25
5.57
155.83%

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

Last update for Tartus: September 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $114 in Tartus and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 873% 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: $45.00 in Tartus vs $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $135 vs $274, with Tartus cheaper for home cooking.

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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 93% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tartus or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 873% 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: $114 in Tartus versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $9.56 in Tartus versus $561 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 $45.00 versus $32.00 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 $637 in Tartus versus $1,232 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 93% 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

Similar cities