Cost of Living Comparison Between Barra and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Barra and Phuket

Name: Phuket
Address: Phuket, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $105 per month in Barra vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $177 per month in Barra vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $248 per month in Barra vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Barra is about 92% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Barra and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Barra 92% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,065

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿95.8

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ฿27.89

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.16

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ฿62.3

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 GMD 73.4

$1.41 ฿46.54

-29.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

Eggs

$2.47 GMD 182

$2.24 ฿74.1

10.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.84 ฿656

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.18 GMD 529

$3.48 ฿115

106.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.8

Banana (1kg)

$2.00 GMD 147

$1.72 ฿57.0

16.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 GMD 202

$2.27 ฿75.1

20.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 GMD 152

$2.13 ฿70.4

-3.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 GMD 81.4

$1.47 ฿48.72

-25.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.82 GMD 60.6

$1.42 ฿46.92

-42.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 GMD 35.74

$0.60 ฿19.76

-18.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 GMD 81.6

$1.80 ฿59.5

-38.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.16

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿918.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K ฿891.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$105 ฿3,462

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.39 ฿376

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 ฿580

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$576 ฿19.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿382.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,103

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿961

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 ฿3,179

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ฿2,974

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ฿24.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ฿70.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Barra: September 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 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

Barra vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 1103%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $158 per month in Barra and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $105 in Barra and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 161% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Barra, where all-in costs run around $105, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Barra it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Barra – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Barra. 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.