ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,332 in Tripolis versus $1,232 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,075 in Tripolis versus $2,255 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,818 in Tripolis versus $3,279 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Tripolis is roughly 8% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Tripolis1% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Tripolis
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.14âŽ12.96
$4.63āļŋ151
227.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.7âŽ49.40
$46.84āļŋ1,532
23.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.62âŽ8.23
$8.84āļŋ289
8.82%
Cappuccino
$3.98âŽ3.40
$3.00āļŋ98.0
32.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94âŽ2.51
$0.74āļŋ24.25
297.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57âŽ0.49
$0.37āļŋ11.95
54.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.23âŽ4.47
$2.44āļŋ79.8
114.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33âŽ4.56
$3.61āļŋ118
47.65%
ð Groceries & Markets
Tripolis
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49âŽ1.28
$2.26āļŋ73.9
-34.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42âŽ1.22
$1.84āļŋ60.1
-22.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48âŽ2.12
$2.24āļŋ73.4
10.71%
Eggs
$5.28âŽ4.52
$2.32āļŋ75.7
127.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.37âŽ11.45
$19.67āļŋ643
-32.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61âŽ8.22
$3.65āļŋ119
163.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.23âŽ11.32
$13.10āļŋ428
0.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17âŽ1.86
$3.39āļŋ111
-35.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84âŽ1.58
$1.64āļŋ53.7
12.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49âŽ1.28
$2.41āļŋ79.0
-38.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03âŽ1.74
$2.03āļŋ66.4
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.21âŽ1.03
$1.56āļŋ50.9
-22.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19âŽ1.02
$1.50āļŋ48.94
-20.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98âŽ0.84
$1.02āļŋ33.50
-3.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81âŽ0.69
$0.49āļŋ16.00
65.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.34âŽ4.57
$4.45āļŋ145
20.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.17âŽ7.85
$18.88āļŋ617
-51.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08âŽ1.78
$1.78āļŋ58.1
16.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10âŽ3.51
$2.75āļŋ90.1
49.09%
ð Getting Around
Tripolis
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.53âŽ1.31
$1.40āļŋ45.81
9.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.41âŽ38.87
$11.48āļŋ376
295.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.70âŽ4.02
$3.12āļŋ102
50.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.00āļŋ32.67
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.65âŽ11.68
$14.09āļŋ461
-3.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.13âŽ1.82
$1.35āļŋ44.19
57.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7KâŽ26.3K
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
12.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KâŽ22.5K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-20.16%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tripolis
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217âŽ186
$125āļŋ4,087
73.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.94âŽ19.64
$13.57āļŋ444
69.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.68âŽ29.69
$18.52āļŋ606
87.26%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Tripolis
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.99âŽ37.66
$61.5āļŋ2,010
-28.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.13âŽ22.36
$16.84āļŋ551
55.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.36âŽ8.02
$9.19āļŋ300
1.85%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Tripolis
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433âŽ371
$698āļŋ22.8K
-37.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,992âŽ5,129
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
-61.57%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Tripolis
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.9âŽ76.1
$57.8āļŋ1,889
53.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.24âŽ33.59
$35.24āļŋ1,152
11.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.4âŽ75.7
$113āļŋ3,699
-21.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106âŽ90.5
$86.4āļŋ2,825
22.40%
ð Accommodation & Living
Tripolis
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$387âŽ331
$616āļŋ20.1K
-37.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$274âŽ235
$446āļŋ14.6K
-38.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$667âŽ571
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
-67.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$464âŽ397
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
-68.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,057âŽ2,617
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-19.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585âŽ2,212
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-2.42%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Tripolis
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,186âŽ1,016
$524āļŋ17.1K
126.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.43
5.33
-16.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tripolis: April 28, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $387 in Tripolis and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Tripolis pays 126% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $58.0 in Tripolis vs $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $283 vs $292, with Tripolis cheaper for home cooking.
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
Tripolis vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Tripolis?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tripolis or Phuket?
Tripolis pays 126% 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 Tripolis and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $387 in Tripolis versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $433 in Tripolis versus $698 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 Tripolis and Phuket?
Shoppers in Tripolis pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tripolis or Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,332 in Tripolis, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Tripolis. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tripolis or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tripolis, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Tripolis or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Tripolis 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 8% less than in Tripolis. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.