Cost of Living Comparison Between Beliลกฤ‡e and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Beliลกฤ‡e and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,235 in Beliลกฤ‡e versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Beliลกฤ‡e versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,433 in Beliลกฤ‡e versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Beliลกฤ‡e costs roughly 2% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Beliลกฤ‡e 8% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Beliลกฤ‡e
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.31 โ‚ฌ7.16
$4.56 เธฟ149
82.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.17 โ‚ฌ34.61
$46.63 เธฟ1,519
-13.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.84 โ‚ฌ5.90
$8.47 เธฟ276
-19.24%
Cappuccino
$2.05 โ‚ฌ1.77
$3.03 เธฟ98.6
-32.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 โ‚ฌ2.03
$0.69 เธฟ22.45
242.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 โ‚ฌ1.73
$0.37 เธฟ11.92
443.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.38 โ‚ฌ2.05
$2.49 เธฟ81.0
-4.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 โ‚ฌ2.03
$3.66 เธฟ119
-35.79%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Beliลกฤ‡e
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 โ‚ฌ0.79
$2.18 เธฟ71.0
-57.80%
White Bread (500g)
$0.66 โ‚ฌ0.57
$1.90 เธฟ62.0
-65.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.94 โ‚ฌ2.53
$2.20 เธฟ71.6
33.64%
Eggs
$3.17 โ‚ฌ2.73
$2.22 เธฟ72.4
42.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.79 โ‚ฌ9.30
$19.99 เธฟ651
-46.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.43 โ‚ฌ6.40
$3.66 เธฟ119
103.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.26 โ‚ฌ9.70
$13.25 เธฟ432
-15.02%
Apples (1kg)
$1.15 โ‚ฌ0.99
$3.23 เธฟ105
-64.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 โ‚ฌ1.23
$1.70 เธฟ55.3
-15.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 โ‚ฌ1.41
$2.39 เธฟ78.0
-31.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.46 โ‚ฌ2.12
$2.08 เธฟ67.7
18.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 โ‚ฌ0.84
$1.59 เธฟ51.8
-38.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 โ‚ฌ1.02
$1.48 เธฟ48.31
-20.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 โ‚ฌ1.04
$1.03 เธฟ33.54
16.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97 โ‚ฌ0.84
$0.52 เธฟ16.83
86.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.50 โ‚ฌ4.74
$4.25 เธฟ138
29.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.08 โ‚ฌ6.10
$18.79 เธฟ612
-62.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 โ‚ฌ1.02
$1.76 เธฟ57.2
-32.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 โ‚ฌ1.66
$2.76 เธฟ89.8
-30.43%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Beliลกฤ‡e
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 โ‚ฌ1.48
$1.36 เธฟ44.32
26.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.47 โ‚ฌ36.59
$11.36 เธฟ370
273.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 โ‚ฌ3.19
$3.14 เธฟ102
18.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.15 โ‚ฌ0.99
$1.04 เธฟ33.74
10.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.76 โ‚ฌ4.96
$13.77 เธฟ448
-58.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.68 โ‚ฌ1.44
$1.34 เธฟ43.79
25.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K โ‚ฌ27.7K
$27.7K เธฟ901.4K
16.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K โ‚ฌ23.7K
$33.9K เธฟ1.1M
-18.90%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beliลกฤ‡e
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 โ‚ฌ106
$124 เธฟ4,025
-0.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.63 โ‚ฌ15.19
$13.52 เธฟ440
30.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.57 โ‚ฌ22.90
$18.69 เธฟ609
42.16%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Beliลกฤ‡e
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.03 โ‚ฌ22.43
$61.8 เธฟ2,013
-57.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48 โ‚ฌ12.48
$17.25 เธฟ562
-16.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.22 โ‚ฌ4.50
$9.14 เธฟ298
-42.89%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Beliลกฤ‡e
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$349 โ‚ฌ301
$703 เธฟ22.9K
-50.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,796 โ‚ฌ2,409
$15.9K เธฟ517.0K
-82.38%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Beliลกฤ‡e
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122 โ‚ฌ105
$59.5 เธฟ1,937
105.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.61 โ‚ฌ36.71
$35.07 เธฟ1,142
21.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.03 โ‚ฌ39.66
$115 เธฟ3,754
-60.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.4 โ‚ฌ50.4
$84.1 เธฟ2,737
-30.48%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Beliลกฤ‡e
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$190 โ‚ฌ164
$619 เธฟ20.1K
-69.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$469 โ‚ฌ404
$433 เธฟ14.1K
8.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$343 โ‚ฌ295
$2,062 เธฟ67.2K
-83.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$775 โ‚ฌ668
$1,511 เธฟ49.2K
-48.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,251 โ‚ฌ3,663
$3,646 เธฟ118.7K
16.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,189 โ‚ฌ1,024
$2,626 เธฟ85.5K
-54.72%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Beliลกฤ‡e
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,818 โ‚ฌ1,566
$507 เธฟ16.5K
258.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.2
5.33
-39.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Beliลกฤ‡e: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $190 in Beliลกฤ‡e and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Beliลกฤ‡e pays 259% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $40.00 in Beliลกฤ‡e vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $293 per month, with Beliลกฤ‡e 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
Beliลกฤ‡e vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Beliลกฤ‡e and Phuket?
Beliลกฤ‡e and Phuket differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,235 vs $1,261 including rent). Beliลกฤ‡e is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Beliลกฤ‡e or Phuket?
Beliลกฤ‡e pays 259% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Beliลกฤ‡e and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $190 in Beliลกฤ‡e versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Beliลกฤ‡e and Phuket?
Childcare runs $349 in Beliลกฤ‡e versus $703 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,235 in Beliลกฤ‡e versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beliลกฤ‡e but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Beliลกฤ‡e the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Beliลกฤ‡e and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ€“ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Beliลกฤ‡e or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Beliลกฤ‡e 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.
Where should expats move: Beliลกฤ‡e or Phuket?
Expats usually find Beliลกฤ‡e gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 2% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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