Cost of Living Comparison Between Banjarmasin and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Banjarmasin and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $598 per month in Banjarmasin vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $940 per month in Banjarmasin vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,282 per month in Banjarmasin vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.

Banjarmasin is about 52% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Banjarmasin and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Banjarmasin 56% lower, Phuket 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.15 Rp 20.4K
$4.56 ฿151
-74.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.63 Rp 242.1K
$32.62 ฿1,082
-58.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.30 Rp 58.6K
$8.90 ฿295
-62.92%
Cappuccino
$1.26 Rp 22.4K
$2.80 ฿93.0
-55.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.1K
$0.88 ฿29.19
-10.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 Rp 6,085
$0.49 ฿16.23
-30.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.24 Rp 93.0K
$2.39 ฿79.2
119.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 Rp 62.0K
$3.71 ฿123
-5.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 Rp 23.7K
$1.79 ฿59.3
-25.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.96 Rp 17.0K
$1.44 ฿47.81
-33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
$1.58 ฿52.6
-44.94%
Eggs
$1.56 Rp 27.7K
$2.13 ฿70.5
-26.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.33 Rp 112.4K
$19.92 ฿661
-68.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.22 Rp 39.4K
$3.43 ฿114
-35.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.34 Rp 59.4K
$11.33 ฿376
-70.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
$2.95 ฿97.8
-35.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.8K
$1.72 ฿57.1
-31.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 Rp 15.7K
$2.32 ฿77.1
-61.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 Rp 22.7K
$2.08 ฿69.0
-38.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.6K
$1.47 ฿48.77
-13.61%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 Rp 16.5K
$1.36 ฿45.05
-31.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 Rp 12.8K
$1.10 ฿36.45
-34.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,647
$0.57 ฿19.06
-24.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88 Rp 33.3K
$4.27 ฿142
-55.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.48 Rp 381.7K
$18.42 ฿611
16.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 Rp 35.3K
$1.87 ฿62.1
6.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 Rp 55.3K
$2.92 ฿96.9
6.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 Rp 11.9K
$2.22 ฿73.6
-69.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.16 Rp 304.8K
$22.90 ฿759
-25.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.50 Rp 8,900
$3.03 ฿101
-83.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 Rp 5,741
$1.07 ฿35.63
-70.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 Rp 53.2K
$3.93 ฿130
-23.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.6K
$1.49 ฿49.49
-44.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6K Rp 401.2M
$27.1K ฿899.8K
-16.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K Rp 584.2M
$27.5K ฿910.6K
19.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.78 Rp 742.2K
$103 ฿3,410
-59.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.85 Rp 50.7K
$10.99 ฿365
-74.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51 Rp 311.1K
$17.51 ฿581
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.34 Rp 361.4K
$53.5 ฿1,776
-62.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.38 Rp 131.1K
$11.20 ฿371
-34.11%
Cinema Ticket
$5.75 Rp 102.1K
$7.48 ฿248
-23.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.8 Rp 1.7M
$557 ฿18.5K
-82.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,399 Rp 131.4M
$11.9K ฿393.2K
-37.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.60 Rp 792.3K
$64.1 ฿2,125
-30.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.45 Rp 611.9K
$29.07 ฿964
18.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.9 Rp 958.0K
$96.0 ฿3,183
-43.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.10 Rp 588.1K
$90.3 ฿2,997
-63.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$245 Rp 4.4M
$730 ฿24.2K
-66.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$139 Rp 2.5M
$500 ฿16.6K
-72.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$575 Rp 10.2M
$2,090 ฿69.3K
-72.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$345 Rp 6.1M
$1,209 ฿40.1K
-71.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,157 Rp 20.6M
$3,596 ฿119.3K
-67.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$646 Rp 11.5M
$2,512 ฿83.3K
-74.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$203 Rp 3.6M
$503 ฿16.7K
-59.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.46
5.57
69.84%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Banjarmasin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $245 in Banjarmasin versus $730 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 148% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Banjarmasin versus $33.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $273 – making Banjarmasin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Banjarmasin vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Banjarmasin?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 110%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $897 per month in Banjarmasin and $1,880 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Banjarmasin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Banjarmasin or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Banjarmasin and $33.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Banjarmasin and in Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $598 in Banjarmasin and $1,253 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Banjarmasin or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjarmasin, where all-in costs run around $598, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Banjarmasin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Banjarmasin or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banjarmasin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Banjarmasin or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banjarmasin. 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.

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