ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,846 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $1,247 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,705 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $2,276 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,565 in Villingen-Schwenningen versus $3,306 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Villingen-Schwenningen is roughly 48% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Villingen-Schwenningen is 37% above, Phuket is 7% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Villingen-Schwenningen
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.35âŽ13.06
$4.59āļŋ147
234.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.3âŽ49.59
$46.83āļŋ1,501
24.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.16âŽ9.50
$8.70āļŋ279
28.28%
Cappuccino
$3.13âŽ2.66
$2.92āļŋ93.7
7.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21âŽ2.73
$0.68āļŋ21.92
372.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63âŽ2.24
$0.40āļŋ12.70
557.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.37âŽ3.72
$2.51āļŋ80.4
74.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78âŽ4.07
$3.80āļŋ122
25.79%
ð Groceries & Markets
Villingen-Schwenningen
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23âŽ1.04
$2.16āļŋ69.3
-43.06%
White Bread(500g)
$2.17âŽ1.85
$1.88āļŋ60.3
15.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.54âŽ3.01
$2.16āļŋ69.2
63.89%
Eggs
$2.61âŽ2.22
$2.22āļŋ71.2
17.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.05âŽ8.55
$19.57āļŋ627
-48.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.76âŽ10.86
$3.80āļŋ122
235.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.41âŽ17.37
$13.41āļŋ430
52.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.12âŽ2.66
$3.26āļŋ104
-4.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69âŽ1.44
$1.61āļŋ51.7
4.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21âŽ1.88
$2.31āļŋ74.0
-4.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.18âŽ3.56
$2.06āļŋ66.0
102.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53âŽ1.30
$1.61āļŋ51.5
-4.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62âŽ1.37
$1.44āļŋ46.26
12.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93âŽ1.65
$1.03āļŋ33.01
87.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.22âŽ1.04
$0.48āļŋ15.39
154.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.57âŽ8.14
$4.50āļŋ144
112.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.02âŽ3.43
$19.18āļŋ615
-79.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07âŽ0.91
$1.82āļŋ58.4
-41.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73âŽ1.47
$2.69āļŋ86.2
-35.69%
ð Getting Around
Villingen-Schwenningen
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.85âŽ2.43
$1.38āļŋ44.16
106.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.0âŽ56.1
$11.76āļŋ377
460.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.48âŽ4.67
$3.11āļŋ99.6
76.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.35âŽ2.00
$1.00āļŋ32.18
135.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.07âŽ32.40
$13.74āļŋ441
177.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.09âŽ1.78
$1.30āļŋ41.61
60.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KâŽ27.3K
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
17.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8KâŽ31.3K
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
11.34%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Villingen-Schwenningen
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$394âŽ335
$125āļŋ4,004
215.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.08âŽ13.69
$13.74āļŋ440
17.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.8âŽ44.97
$18.61āļŋ597
183.93%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Villingen-Schwenningen
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.15âŽ29.07
$60.6āļŋ1,941
-43.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.25âŽ19.79
$17.15āļŋ550
35.57%
Cinema Ticket
$12.12âŽ10.32
$9.01āļŋ289
34.52%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Villingen-Schwenningen
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$275âŽ234
$698āļŋ22.4K
-60.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KâŽ11.3K
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
-17.57%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Villingen-Schwenningen
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103âŽ87.4
$59.2āļŋ1,898
73.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.6âŽ49.05
$34.86āļŋ1,118
65.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0âŽ77.5
$114āļŋ3,662
-20.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141âŽ120
$85.8āļŋ2,751
64.39%
ð Accommodation & Living
Villingen-Schwenningen
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$478âŽ407
$619āļŋ19.8K
-22.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$476âŽ405
$437āļŋ14.0K
8.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$924âŽ786
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
-55.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$807âŽ686
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
-46.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,555âŽ3,876
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
21.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,920âŽ3,336
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
45.54%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Villingen-Schwenningen
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,222âŽ3,593
$528āļŋ16.9K
698.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.99
5.33
-25.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Villingen-Schwenningen: April 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $478 in Villingen-Schwenningen and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Villingen-Schwenningen pays 699% 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 in Villingen-Schwenningen vs $47 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $292 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
Villingen-Schwenningen vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Villingen-Schwenningen?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Villingen-Schwenningen or Phuket?
Villingen-Schwenningen pays 699% 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 Villingen-Schwenningen and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $478 in Villingen-Schwenningen 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 $275 in Villingen-Schwenningen 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 Villingen-Schwenningen and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Villingen-Schwenningen. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Villingen-Schwenningen or Phuket?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,846 in Villingen-Schwenningen, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Villingen-Schwenningen. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Villingen-Schwenningen or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Villingen-Schwenningen, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Villingen-Schwenningen or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Villingen-Schwenningen 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 48% less than in Villingen-Schwenningen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Villingen-Schwenningen vs other spots: cost of living compared