Cost of Living Comparison Between Bendigo and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Bendigo and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,636 per month in Bendigo vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,464 per month in Bendigo vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,292 per month in Bendigo vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Bendigo costs about 29% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Bendigo sits 22% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bendigo
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.42 A$27.06
$4.70 ฿153
313.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.9 A$82.0
$45.37 ฿1,482
29.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.49 A$13.23
$8.43 ฿275
12.57%
Cappuccino
$3.72 A$5.18
$2.93 ฿95.6
26.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 A$3.55
$0.69 ฿22.40
269.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 A$3.08
$0.37 ฿11.99
497.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.41 A$10.33
$2.41 ฿78.6
207.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 A$6.52
$3.72 ฿122
25.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bendigo
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 A$1.53
$2.23 ฿72.9
-50.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 A$3.52
$1.83 ฿59.8
37.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 A$3.12
$2.17 ฿70.8
3.23%
Eggs
$4.31 A$6.00
$2.21 ฿72.3
95.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.74 A$12.18
$19.74 ฿645
-55.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.91 A$12.41
$3.63 ฿119
145.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.66 A$20.42
$13.53 ฿442
8.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.27 A$4.55
$3.28 ฿107
-0.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.91 A$4.06
$1.61 ฿52.6
80.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 A$4.11
$2.41 ฿78.6
22.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.10 A$5.71
$2.08 ฿68.1
97.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.25 A$3.14
$1.53 ฿49.93
47.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 A$2.69
$1.48 ฿48.36
30.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 A$2.99
$0.99 ฿32.29
116.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 A$2.29
$0.51 ฿16.67
221.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$23.76 A$33.12
$4.41 ฿144
438.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.79 A$13.64
$19.38 ฿633
-49.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.71 A$6.57
$1.78 ฿58.1
164.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 A$7.07
$2.71 ฿88.6
87.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Bendigo
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.29 A$5.98
$1.37 ฿44.79
213.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.1 A$75.3
$11.39 ฿372
374.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 A$4.86
$3.02 ฿98.6
15.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 A$1.86
$0.99 ฿32.48
35.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.96 A$18.06
$14.10 ฿461
-8.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 A$1.55
$1.36 ฿44.51
-18.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K A$35.6K
$28.2K ฿921.1K
-9.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.1K A$25.2K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-44.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bendigo
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 A$210
$122 ฿3,975
23.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.64 A$27.36
$13.57 ฿443
44.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.49 A$66.2
$18.31 ฿598
159.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bendigo
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.5 A$81.5
$60.2 ฿1,967
-2.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.05 A$25.15
$17.14 ฿560
5.31%
Cinema Ticket
$10.37 A$14.45
$8.69 ฿284
19.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bendigo
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,167 A$1,626
$693 ฿22.6K
68.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.5K A$27.2K
$15.7K ฿512.3K
24.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bendigo
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.0 A$90.6
$59.5 ฿1,944
9.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.0 A$75.2
$34.77 ฿1,136
55.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 A$150
$115 ฿3,743
-5.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 A$143
$83.3 ฿2,720
22.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bendigo
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$640 A$892
$613 ฿20.0K
4.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 A$672
$437 ฿14.3K
10.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 A$1,345
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-53.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$670 A$933
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-55.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,522 A$6,302
$3,749 ฿122.5K
20.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,977 A$5,541
$2,616 ฿85.4K
52.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bendigo
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,408 A$4,749
$508 ฿16.6K
570.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.19
5.33
16.14%

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

Last update for Bendigo: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $640 in Bendigo 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 571% higher in Bendigo, 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 $59.0 in Bendigo versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $293 – making Phuket 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
Bendigo vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Bendigo?
Yes – Bendigo is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,455 per month in Bendigo 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 Phuket, 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 Bendigo or Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Bendigo 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 Bendigo vs Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,636 in Bendigo 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 Bendigo or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Bendigo at $1,636. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bendigo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Bendigo or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bendigo 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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bendigo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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