๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,235 in Beliลกฤe versus $1,261 in Phuket.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,834 in Beliลกฤe versus $2,286 in Phuket.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,433 in Beliลกฤe versus $3,310 in Phuket.
๐Living in Beliลกฤe costs roughly 2% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Beliลกฤe8% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Beliลกฤe
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.31โฌ7.16
$4.56เธฟ149
82.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.17โฌ34.61
$46.63เธฟ1,519
-13.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.84โฌ5.90
$8.47เธฟ276
-19.24%
Cappuccino
$2.05โฌ1.77
$3.03เธฟ98.6
-32.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36โฌ2.03
$0.69เธฟ22.45
242.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01โฌ1.73
$0.37เธฟ11.92
443.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.38โฌ2.05
$2.49เธฟ81.0
-4.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35โฌ2.03
$3.66เธฟ119
-35.79%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Beliลกฤe
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92โฌ0.79
$2.18เธฟ71.0
-57.80%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66โฌ0.57
$1.90เธฟ62.0
-65.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94โฌ2.53
$2.20เธฟ71.6
33.64%
Eggs
$3.17โฌ2.73
$2.22เธฟ72.4
42.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.79โฌ9.30
$19.99เธฟ651
-46.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.43โฌ6.40
$3.66เธฟ119
103.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.26โฌ9.70
$13.25เธฟ432
-15.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15โฌ0.99
$3.23เธฟ105
-64.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43โฌ1.23
$1.70เธฟ55.3
-15.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63โฌ1.41
$2.39เธฟ78.0
-31.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46โฌ2.12
$2.08เธฟ67.7
18.27%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97โฌ0.84
$1.59เธฟ51.8
-38.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18โฌ1.02
$1.48เธฟ48.31
-20.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20โฌ1.04
$1.03เธฟ33.54
16.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97โฌ0.84
$0.52เธฟ16.83
86.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.50โฌ4.74
$4.25เธฟ138
29.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.08โฌ6.10
$18.79เธฟ612
-62.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18โฌ1.02
$1.76เธฟ57.2
-32.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92โฌ1.66
$2.76เธฟ89.8
-30.43%
๐ Getting Around
Beliลกฤe
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.72โฌ1.48
$1.36เธฟ44.32
26.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.47โฌ36.59
$11.36เธฟ370
273.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.71โฌ3.19
$3.14เธฟ102
18.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15โฌ0.99
$1.04เธฟ33.74
10.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.76โฌ4.96
$13.77เธฟ448
-58.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68โฌ1.44
$1.34เธฟ43.79
25.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2Kโฌ27.7K
$27.7Kเธฟ901.4K
16.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5Kโฌ23.7K
$33.9Kเธฟ1.1M
-18.90%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beliลกฤe
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123โฌ106
$124เธฟ4,025
-0.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.63โฌ15.19
$13.52เธฟ440
30.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.57โฌ22.90
$18.69เธฟ609
42.16%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Beliลกฤe
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.03โฌ22.43
$61.8เธฟ2,013
-57.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.48โฌ12.48
$17.25เธฟ562
-16.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.22โฌ4.50
$9.14เธฟ298
-42.89%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Beliลกฤe
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$349โฌ301
$703เธฟ22.9K
-50.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,796โฌ2,409
$15.9Kเธฟ517.0K
-82.38%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Beliลกฤe
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122โฌ105
$59.5เธฟ1,937
105.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.61โฌ36.71
$35.07เธฟ1,142
21.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.03โฌ39.66
$115เธฟ3,754
-60.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.4โฌ50.4
$84.1เธฟ2,737
-30.48%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Beliลกฤe
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$190โฌ164
$619เธฟ20.1K
-69.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$469โฌ404
$433เธฟ14.1K
8.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343โฌ295
$2,062เธฟ67.2K
-83.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$775โฌ668
$1,511เธฟ49.2K
-48.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,251โฌ3,663
$3,646เธฟ118.7K
16.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,189โฌ1,024
$2,626เธฟ85.5K
-54.72%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Beliลกฤe
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,818โฌ1,566
$507เธฟ16.5K
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 Beliลกฤe: June 8, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $190 in Beliลกฤe and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBeliลกฤe pays 259% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $40.00 in Beliลกฤe vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $293 per month, with Beliลกฤe 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
Beliลกฤe vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Beliลกฤe and Phuket?
Beliลกฤe and Phuket differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,235 vs $1,261 including rent). Beliลกฤe is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Beliลกฤe or Phuket?
Beliลกฤe 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 Beliลกฤe and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $190 in Beliลกฤe 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 Beliลกฤe and Phuket?
Childcare runs $349 in Beliลกฤe 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 Beliลกฤe versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beliลกฤe but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Beliลกฤe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Beliลกฤe 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 Beliลกฤe or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Beliลกฤe 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: Beliลกฤe or Phuket?
Expats usually find Beliลกฤe 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.