😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,215 in Vilvoorde versus $1,261 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,230 in Vilvoorde versus $2,078 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,245 in Vilvoorde versus $2,896 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Vilvoorde is roughly 76% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Vilvoorde is 62% above, Phuket is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vilvoorde
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.47€17.51
$4.43฿145
362.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.7€68.2
$35.07฿1,151
127.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.43€9.78
$8.96฿294
27.57%
Cappuccino
$4.38€3.75
$3.00฿98.4
46.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25€2.78
$0.77฿25.33
322.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91€2.49
$0.47฿15.44
519.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.10€4.36
$2.40฿78.6
112.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73€4.05
$3.75฿123
26.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vilvoorde
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22€1.04
$1.82฿59.8
-32.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.81€2.40
$1.42฿46.65
97.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24€1.92
$1.55฿50.8
44.52%
Eggs
$4.04€3.46
$2.13฿69.9
89.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.96€10.23
$19.76฿648
-39.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.57€10.75
$3.48฿114
261.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.07€16.31
$11.09฿364
71.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76€2.37
$2.91฿95.5
-5.15%
Banana(1kg)
$2.21€1.89
$1.66฿54.6
33.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31€1.97
$2.27฿74.5
1.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.32€1.98
$2.10฿68.8
10.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.18€1.86
$1.47฿48.24
48.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80€1.54
$1.41฿46.29
27.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36€1.16
$1.09฿35.78
24.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00€0.85
$0.54฿17.58
85.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.40€11.46
$4.48฿147
199.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.07€7.76
$18.72฿614
-51.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.78
$1.84฿60.4
13.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91€1.64
$2.95฿96.7
-35.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Vilvoorde
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.80€4.10
$2.26฿74.1
112.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.7€48.49
$23.07฿757
145.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.56€9.04
$3.04฿99.9
247.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62€2.25
$1.09฿35.82
140.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.00€22.24
$3.82฿125
580.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.70
$1.49฿48.79
33.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K€31.3K
$27.4K฿900.3K
33.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3K€29.4K
$27.5K฿902.7K
24.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vilvoorde
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$232€199
$102฿3,340
128.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.17€16.40
$11.28฿370
69.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.9€47.78
$17.75฿582
214.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vilvoorde
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.44€32.88
$54.2฿1,777
-29.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.56€17.59
$10.96฿360
87.59%
Cinema Ticket
$16.07€13.75
$7.85฿258
104.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vilvoorde
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$582€498
$577฿18.9K
0.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.9K€14.5K
$11.6K฿381.6K
45.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vilvoorde
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113€96.7
$65.4฿2,144
73.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.49€23.52
$28.89฿948
-4.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113€97.0
$99.1฿3,250
14.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152€130
$90.3฿2,961
68.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vilvoorde
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$968€828
$756฿24.8K
28.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$938€802
$487฿16.0K
92.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,405€1,202
$2,085฿68.4K
-32.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,297€1,110
$1,207฿39.6K
7.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,777€3,231
$3,591฿117.8K
5.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,256€2,785
$2,610฿85.6K
24.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vilvoorde
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,881€3,320
$502฿16.5K
672.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
5.57
-42.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vilvoorde: August 18, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $968 in Vilvoorde and $756 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Vilvoorde pays 673% 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: $80.0 in Vilvoorde vs $35.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $329 vs $272 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
Vilvoorde vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Vilvoorde?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 76% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Vilvoorde or Phuket?
Average pay runs 673% higher in Vilvoorde, 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 Vilvoorde and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $968 in Vilvoorde versus $756 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $582 in Vilvoorde versus $577 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 Vilvoorde and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Vilvoorde. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Vilvoorde or in Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $2,215 in Vilvoorde, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Vilvoorde. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Vilvoorde or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Vilvoorde, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Vilvoorde or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Vilvoorde 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 76% less than in Vilvoorde. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.