😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,886 in Willemstad versus $1,265 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,969 in Willemstad versus $2,297 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,052 in Willemstad versus $3,329 in Phuket.
😐Living in Willemstad is roughly 49% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Willemstad is 41% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Willemstad
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.25ANG 32.58
$4.70฿153
288.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1ANG 125
$45.37฿1,482
54.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.40ANG 15.00
$8.43฿275
-0.36%
Cappuccino
$3.59ANG 6.41
$2.93฿95.6
22.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98ANG 5.31
$0.69฿22.40
331.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47ANG 2.63
$0.37฿11.99
297.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.72ANG 10.20
$2.41฿78.6
137.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63ANG 8.26
$3.72฿122
24.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Willemstad
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78ANG 3.17
$2.23฿72.9
-20.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.35ANG 4.20
$1.83฿59.8
28.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.68ANG 4.78
$2.17฿70.8
23.50%
Eggs
$3.63ANG 6.49
$2.21฿72.3
64.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.69ANG 17.31
$19.74฿645
-50.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.63ANG 13.62
$3.63฿119
110.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.45ANG 16.86
$13.53฿442
-30.16%
Apples(1kg)
$5.25ANG 9.37
$3.28฿107
60.06%
Banana(1kg)
$3.24ANG 5.78
$1.61฿52.6
101.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.04ANG 5.43
$2.41฿78.6
26.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.28ANG 7.63
$2.08฿68.1
105.77%
Potato(1kg)
$3.04ANG 5.44
$1.53฿49.93
98.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.83ANG 5.04
$1.48฿48.36
91.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.18ANG 3.89
$0.99฿32.29
120.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.10ANG 3.75
$0.51฿16.67
311.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.45ANG 15.09
$4.41฿144
91.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.20ANG 25.35
$19.38฿633
-26.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57ANG 4.59
$1.78฿58.1
44.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17ANG 5.66
$2.71฿88.6
16.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Willemstad
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.69ANG 3.01
$1.37฿44.79
23.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.39฿372
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$25.20ANG 44.99
$3.02฿98.6
734.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.64ANG 4.72
$0.99฿32.48
166.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$50.6ANG 90.2
$14.10฿461
258.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27ANG 2.27
$1.36฿44.51
-6.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$28.2K฿921.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4KANG 34.6K
$32.9K฿1.1M
-41.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Willemstad
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$239ANG 427
$122฿3,975
96.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$82.4ANG 147
$13.57฿443
507.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.0ANG 114
$18.31฿598
249.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Willemstad
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.7ANG 97.7
$60.2฿1,967
-9.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.2ANG 113
$17.14฿560
268.44%
Cinema Ticket
$9.66ANG 17.24
$8.69฿284
11.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Willemstad
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225ANG 402
$693฿22.6K
-67.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,503ANG 17.0K
$15.7K฿512.3K
-39.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Willemstad
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9ANG 160
$59.5฿1,944
50.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$92.1ANG 164
$34.77฿1,136
164.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$142ANG 254
$115฿3,743
24.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110ANG 197
$83.3฿2,720
32.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Willemstad
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$724ANG 1,292
$613฿20.0K
18.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$553ANG 987
$437฿14.3K
26.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,726ANG 3,081
$2,094฿68.4K
-17.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,156ANG 2,064
$1,509฿49.3K
-23.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$848ANG 1,514
$3,749฿122.5K
-77.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$166ANG 296
$2,616฿85.4K
-93.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Willemstad
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,238ANG 2,210
$508฿16.6K
143.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.97
5.33
-6.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Willemstad: June 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $724 in Willemstad and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Willemstad pays 144% 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: $70.0 in Willemstad vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $338 vs $293 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
Willemstad vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Willemstad?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 49% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Willemstad or Phuket?
Willemstad pays 144% 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 Willemstad and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $724 in Willemstad versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $225 in Willemstad versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Willemstad or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $70.0 in Willemstad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Willemstad or Phuket?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,886 in Willemstad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Willemstad. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Willemstad or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Willemstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Willemstad or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Willemstad 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 49% less than in Willemstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Willemstad vs other spots: cost of living compared