😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,695 in Victoria versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,049 in Victoria versus $2,284 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,403 in Victoria versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Victoria is roughly 116% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Victoria is 102% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.14CA$25.43
$4.55฿153
298.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.6CA$114
$46.18฿1,554
76.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.97CA$15.38
$8.84฿298
24.10%
Cappuccino
$4.04CA$5.66
$3.06฿103
32.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42CA$3.40
$0.73฿24.42
231.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05CA$2.87
$0.40฿13.40
412.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.05CA$7.07
$2.43฿81.8
107.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50CA$9.12
$3.78฿127
71.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.06CA$4.29
$2.26฿76.0
35.40%
White Bread(500g)
$3.14CA$4.41
$1.81฿60.9
73.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.08CA$7.13
$2.25฿75.8
125.78%
Eggs
$4.40CA$6.16
$2.25฿75.6
95.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.25CA$18.58
$19.51฿656
-32.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.69CA$20.60
$3.65฿123
302.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.32CA$21.48
$13.05฿439
17.39%
Apples(1kg)
$4.38CA$6.14
$3.23฿109
35.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67CA$2.34
$1.62฿54.4
3.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.38CA$6.14
$2.38฿80.2
84.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.97CA$6.97
$2.03฿68.2
144.83%
Potato(1kg)
$3.79CA$5.31
$1.53฿51.6
147.71%
Onion(1kg)
$3.13CA$4.39
$1.50฿50.5
108.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64CA$3.70
$0.98฿32.93
169.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.67CA$3.74
$0.52฿17.40
413.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.42CA$21.62
$4.44฿149
247.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.95CA$25.17
$18.32฿616
-2.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.79CA$5.31
$1.86฿62.7
103.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35CA$6.10
$2.68฿90.2
62.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.89CA$2.65
$1.41฿47.49
34.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.6CA$89.1
$11.70฿394
443.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.68CA$3.76
$3.11฿105
-13.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39CA$1.95
$1.04฿35.08
33.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.79CA$47.38
$14.11฿475
139.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33CA$1.87
$1.31฿44.13
1.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KCA$34.5K
$27.8K฿936.0K
-11.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KCA$29.5K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-36.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137CA$192
$122฿4,120
11.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.2CA$74.6
$13.59฿457
291.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.0CA$99.5
$18.70฿629
279.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.61CA$62.5
$60.5฿2,035
-26.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.67CA$23.37
$16.98฿572
-1.83%
Cinema Ticket
$11.88CA$16.66
$9.07฿305
30.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$630CA$883
$706฿23.8K
-10.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2KCA$19.9K
$15.8K฿531.8K
-10.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.2CA$81.5
$58.6฿1,970
-0.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98CA$63.1
$35.36฿1,190
27.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.7CA$131
$115฿3,885
-18.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112CA$156
$83.7฿2,818
33.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,592CA$2,232
$626฿21.1K
154.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,378CA$1,931
$445฿15.0K
209.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,700CA$3,785
$2,040฿68.7K
32.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,446CA$3,429
$1,492฿50.2K
63.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,539CA$7,766
$3,483฿117.2K
59.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,491CA$6,296
$2,577฿86.7K
74.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,060CA$4,290
$500฿16.8K
512.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.38
5.33
19.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Victoria: July 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,592 in Victoria and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Victoria pays 512% 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: $82.0 in Victoria vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $457 vs $289 per month, with Phuket 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
Victoria vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Victoria?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 116% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Victoria or Phuket?
Average pay runs 512% higher in Victoria, 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 Victoria and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,592 in Victoria 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 $630 in Victoria versus $706 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 Victoria and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Victoria. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Victoria or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,695 in Victoria, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Victoria. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Victoria or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Victoria, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Victoria or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Victoria 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 – expenses run 116% less than in Victoria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.