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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $625 per month in Banjarmasin vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $954 per month in Banjarmasin vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,283 per month in Banjarmasin vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Banjarmasin is about 51% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Banjarmasin and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Banjarmasin 53% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.19 Rp 21.3K
$4.70 ฿153
-74.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.36 Rp 220.7K
$45.37 ฿1,482
-72.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.55 Rp 45.5K
$8.43 ฿275
-69.75%
Cappuccino
$1.10 Rp 19.7K
$2.93 ฿95.6
-62.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97 Rp 17.3K
$0.69 ฿22.40
40.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 Rp 5,451
$0.37 ฿11.99
-16.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 Rp 42.9K
$2.41 ฿78.6
-0.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 Rp 61.5K
$3.72 ฿122
-7.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 Rp 25.7K
$2.23 ฿72.9
-35.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 Rp 15.9K
$1.83 ฿59.8
-51.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 28.8K
$2.17 ฿70.8
-25.81%
Eggs
$1.45 Rp 26.0K
$2.21 ฿72.3
-34.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.34 Rp 149.0K
$19.74 ฿645
-57.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.43 Rp 43.4K
$3.63 ฿119
-33.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$13.53 ฿442
-70.73%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.1K
$3.28 ฿107
-39.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 Rp 18.4K
$1.61 ฿52.6
-36.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.96 Rp 17.1K
$2.41 ฿78.6
-60.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
$2.08 ฿68.1
-65.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 Rp 18.6K
$1.53 ฿49.93
-32.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.9K
$1.48 ฿48.36
-25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.99 ฿32.29
-18.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 7,991
$0.51 ฿16.67
-11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$4.41 ฿144
-58.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.67 Rp 369.2K
$19.38 ฿633
6.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 Rp 37.3K
$1.78 ฿58.1
17.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 Rp 55.7K
$2.71 ฿88.6
15.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 Rp 5,608
$1.37 ฿44.79
-77.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.47 Rp 329.8K
$11.39 ฿372
62.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 Rp 22.6K
$3.02 ฿98.6
-57.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 Rp 12.4K
$0.99 ฿32.48
-30.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 Rp 52.6K
$14.10 ฿461
-79.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$1.36 ฿44.51
-37.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K Rp 430.5M
$28.2K ฿921.1K
-14.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K Rp 484.8M
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-17.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.37 Rp 792.3K
$122 ฿3,975
-63.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.09 Rp 55.2K
$13.57 ฿443
-77.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.94 Rp 338.3K
$18.31 ฿598
3.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.17 Rp 878.2K
$60.2 ฿1,967
-18.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.21 Rp 110.9K
$17.14 ฿560
-63.77%
Cinema Ticket
$6.06 Rp 108.2K
$8.69 ฿284
-30.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$62.0 Rp 1.1M
$693 ฿22.6K
-91.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,569 Rp 135.2M
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-51.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.81 Rp 496.6K
$59.5 ฿1,944
-53.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.24 Rp 557.9K
$34.77 ฿1,136
-10.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.7 Rp 1.0M
$115 ฿3,743
-48.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.79 Rp 639.2K
$83.3 ฿2,720
-57.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$259 Rp 4.6M
$613 ฿20.0K
-57.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$160 Rp 2.9M
$437 ฿14.3K
-63.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$583 Rp 10.4M
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-72.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$340 Rp 6.1M
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-77.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,095 Rp 19.6M
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-70.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$833 Rp 14.9M
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-68.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banjarmasin
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$200 Rp 3.6M
$508 ฿16.6K
-60.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
5.33
71.67%

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

Last update for Banjarmasin: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Banjarmasin versus $613 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 153% 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 $12.00 in Banjarmasin versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $180 vs $293 – 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 102%, 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 $938 per month in Banjarmasin and $1,898 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 Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Banjarmasin and $45.00 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 vs Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $625 in Banjarmasin and $1,265 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 Banjarmasin or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjarmasin, where all-in costs run around $625, than in Phuket at $1,265. 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.

Banjarmasin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities