Cost of Living Comparison Between Bakau and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Bakau and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $281 per month in Bakau vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $483 per month in Bakau vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $686 per month in Bakau vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Bakau is about 77% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Bakau and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Bakau79% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bakau
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.38GMD 325
$4.63฿151
-5.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$46.84฿1,532
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.84฿289
-
Cappuccino
$4.70GMD 348
$3.00฿98.0
56.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.74฿24.25
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11GMD 82.0
$0.37฿11.95
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74GMD 129
$2.44฿79.8
-28.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80GMD 208
$3.61฿118
-22.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bakau
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.50GMD 185
$2.26฿73.9
10.62%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.84฿60.1
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$2.24฿73.4
-
Eggs
$5.59GMD 414
$2.32฿75.7
140.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$19.67฿643
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.97GMD 1,258
$3.65฿119
364.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.10฿428
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.39฿111
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.64฿53.7
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.41฿79.0
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.03฿66.4
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.56฿50.9
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.50฿48.94
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.02฿33.50
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.49฿16.00
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.45฿145
-
Wine(Bottle)
$13.56GMD 1,006
$18.88฿617
-28.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17GMD 161
$1.78฿58.1
21.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89GMD 214
$2.75฿90.1
5.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Bakau
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.40฿45.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48฿376
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.12฿102
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.00฿32.67
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$14.09฿461
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.35฿44.19
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.2K฿888.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.9K฿1.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bakau
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$125฿4,087
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.57฿444
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$18.52฿606
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bakau
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.5฿2,010
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84฿551
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.19฿300
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bakau
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$698฿22.8K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.6K฿509.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bakau
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.8฿1,889
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$35.24฿1,152
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$113฿3,699
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$86.4฿2,825
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bakau
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$616฿20.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$446฿14.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,048฿67.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$71.4GMD 5,293
$1,492฿48.8K
-95.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,779฿123.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,649฿86.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bakau
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$524฿17.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bakau: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
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
Bakau vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bakau or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 339% more than Bakau, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bakau vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $421 per month in Bakau and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Bakau compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $281 in Bakau and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Bakau or Phuket?
Groceries cost about 66% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bakau or Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bakau, where all-in costs run around $281, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Bakau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bakau or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakau costs $281 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bakau compared to Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Bakau or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Bakau. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.