😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,978 in Victoria versus $1,232 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,130 in Victoria versus $2,255 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,283 in Victoria versus $3,279 in Phuket.
😐Living in Victoria is roughly 61% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Victoria is 48% above, Phuket is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.73SCR 227
$4.63฿151
239.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.24SCR 638
$46.84฿1,532
-5.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.94SCR 129
$8.84฿289
1.13%
Cappuccino
$4.98SCR 71.8
$3.00฿98.0
66.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66SCR 38.36
$0.74฿24.25
259.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73SCR 39.37
$0.37฿11.95
637.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.92SCR 56.5
$2.44฿79.8
60.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61SCR 66.6
$3.61฿118
27.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79SCR 25.82
$2.26฿73.9
-20.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79SCR 25.82
$1.84฿60.1
-2.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.75SCR 39.64
$2.24฿73.4
22.77%
Eggs
$3.65SCR 52.7
$2.32฿75.7
57.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$33.94SCR 490
$19.67฿643
72.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.99SCR 86.4
$3.65฿119
64.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.64SCR 168
$13.10฿428
-11.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30SCR 33.17
$3.39฿111
-32.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.67SCR 38.47
$1.64฿53.7
62.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13SCR 30.75
$2.41฿79.0
-11.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.26SCR 90.4
$2.03฿66.4
208.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06SCR 29.67
$1.56฿50.9
32.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48SCR 21.32
$1.50฿48.94
-1.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31SCR 18.98
$1.02฿33.50
28.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.49SCR 21.48
$0.49฿16.00
204.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$21.64SCR 312
$4.45฿145
386.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.07SCR 145
$18.88฿617
-46.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.43SCR 63.9
$1.78฿58.1
148.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.71SCR 96.9
$2.75฿90.1
144.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84SCR 12.13
$1.40฿45.81
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.64SCR 356
$11.48฿376
114.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.86SCR 98.9
$3.12฿102
119.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13SCR 30.72
$1.00฿32.67
113.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.97SCR 303
$14.09฿461
48.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40SCR 20.20
$1.35฿44.19
3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KSCR 379.0K
$27.2K฿888.9K
-3.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KSCR 501.5K
$32.9K฿1.1M
5.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135SCR 1,942
$125฿4,087
7.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.70SCR 587
$13.57฿444
199.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$155SCR 2,239
$18.52฿606
737.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$92.2SCR 1,331
$61.5฿2,010
50.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.39SCR 222
$16.84฿551
-8.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07SCR 73.2
$9.19฿300
-44.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154SCR 2,226
$698฿22.8K
-77.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,288SCR 119.6K
$15.6K฿509.9K
-46.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.0SCR 952
$57.8฿1,889
14.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.17SCR 392
$35.24฿1,152
-22.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.5SCR 1,017
$113฿3,699
-37.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.7SCR 1,050
$86.4฿2,825
-15.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$936SCR 13.5K
$616฿20.1K
51.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$738SCR 10.7K
$446฿14.6K
65.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,010SCR 29.0K
$2,048฿67.0K
-1.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,789SCR 25.8K
$1,492฿48.8K
19.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$465SCR 6,709
$3,779฿123.6K
-87.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,208SCR 17.4K
$2,649฿86.6K
-54.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Victoria
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$904SCR 13.0K
$524฿17.1K
72.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.5
5.33
209.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Victoria: April 28, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $936 in Victoria and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Victoria pays 73% 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: $44.00 in Victoria vs $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $383 vs $292, with Phuket 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
Victoria vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Victoria?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Victoria or Phuket?
Victoria pays 73% 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 Victoria and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $936 in Victoria 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 $154 in Victoria 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 Victoria and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Victoria. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Victoria or Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,978 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 61% less than in Victoria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.