Cost of Living Comparison Between Tripoli and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Tripoli and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $849 in Tripoli versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,342 in Tripoli versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,835 in Tripoli versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Tripoli costs roughly 33% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tripoli 37% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tripoli
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 LBP 414.2K
$4.56 ฿149
1.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.44 LBP 3.4M
$46.63 ฿1,519
-19.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.08 LBP 723.6K
$8.47 ฿276
-4.60%
Cappuccino
$2.56 LBP 229.0K
$3.03 ฿98.6
-15.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 LBP 131.3K
$0.69 ฿22.45
113.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 LBP 83.6K
$0.37 ฿11.92
151.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.54 LBP 317.1K
$2.49 ฿81.0
42.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92 LBP 440.1K
$3.66 ฿119
34.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tripoli
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 LBP 119.6K
$2.18 ฿71.0
-38.53%
White Bread (500g)
$0.34 LBP 30.8K
$1.90 ฿62.0
-82.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 LBP 82.5K
$2.20 ฿71.6
-58.18%
Eggs
$1.62 LBP 145.2K
$2.22 ฿72.4
-27.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.61 LBP 502.4K
$19.99 ฿651
-71.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.91 LBP 528.5K
$3.66 ฿119
61.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.86 LBP 882.9K
$13.25 ฿432
-25.58%
Apples (1kg)
$0.98 LBP 87.6K
$3.23 ฿105
-69.66%
Banana (1kg)
$0.57 LBP 50.8K
$1.70 ฿55.3
-66.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.48 LBP 43.2K
$2.39 ฿78.0
-79.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.97 LBP 87.1K
$2.08 ฿67.7
-53.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.54 LBP 48.7K
$1.59 ฿51.8
-66.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 LBP 66.0K
$1.48 ฿48.31
-50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.31 LBP 28.0K
$1.03 ฿33.54
-69.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 LBP 37.3K
$0.52 ฿16.83
-19.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46 LBP 220.4K
$4.25 ฿138
-42.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.87 LBP 883.6K
$18.79 ฿612
-47.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 LBP 114.7K
$1.76 ฿57.2
-27.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 LBP 196.9K
$2.76 ฿89.8
-20.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Tripoli
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 LBP 91.6K
$1.36 ฿44.32
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.36 ฿370
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.05 LBP 452.2K
$3.14 ฿102
60.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 LBP 111.0K
$1.04 ฿33.74
19.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.91 LBP 1.8M
$13.77 ฿448
44.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 LBP 80.6K
$1.34 ฿43.79
-32.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K LBP 2.0B
$27.7K ฿901.4K
-19.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K LBP 1.8B
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-41.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tripoli
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 LBP 19.1M
$124 ฿4,025
72.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.71 LBP 1.9M
$13.52 ฿440
60.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.82 LBP 3.4M
$18.69 ฿609
102.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tripoli
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.82 LBP 1.8M
$61.8 ฿2,013
-67.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.38 LBP 1.1M
$17.25 ฿562
-28.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47 LBP 578.8K
$9.14 ฿298
-29.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tripoli
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$138 LBP 12.3M
$703 ฿22.9K
-80.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,987 LBP 177.9M
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-87.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tripoli
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.49 LBP 3.1M
$59.5 ฿1,937
-41.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.27 LBP 4.1M
$35.07 ฿1,142
29.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.4 LBP 7.6M
$115 ฿3,754
-26.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 LBP 6.8M
$84.1 ฿2,737
-9.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tripoli
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$253 LBP 22.7M
$619 ฿20.1K
-59.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$148 LBP 13.2M
$433 ฿14.1K
-65.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$762 LBP 68.2M
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-63.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$383 LBP 34.2M
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-74.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,180 LBP 105.6M
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-67.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$867 LBP 77.6M
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-66.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tripoli
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$446 LBP 39.9M
$507 ฿16.5K
-12.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
5.33
87.62%

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

Last update for Tripoli: June 9, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $253 in Tripoli and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 14% 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: $37.00 in Tripoli vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $293 per month, with Tripoli 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
Tripoli vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Tripoli?
Tripoli is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tripoli or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 14% 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 Tripoli and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $253 in Tripoli 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 $138 in Tripoli versus $703 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Tripoli or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Tripoli – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tripoli or Phuket?
At $849 in Tripoli versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tripoli but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tripoli the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tripoli or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Tripoli 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, Tripoli or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Tripoli 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 Tripoli gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tripoli vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities