🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $625 in Bien Hoa versus $1,261 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $893 in Bien Hoa versus $2,286 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,161 in Bien Hoa versus $3,310 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Bien Hoa costs roughly 50% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bien Hoa53% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bien Hoa
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96₫51.5K
$4.56฿149
-57.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.48₫301.3K
$46.63฿1,519
-75.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.56₫119.7K
$8.47฿276
-46.16%
Cappuccino
$1.16₫30.5K
$3.03฿98.6
-61.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₫11.7K
$0.69฿22.45
-34.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23₫6,050
$0.37฿11.92
-37.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.56₫14.7K
$2.49฿81.0
-77.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75₫19.8K
$3.66฿119
-79.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bien Hoa
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27₫33.3K
$2.18฿71.0
-41.74%
White Bread(500g)
$0.76₫19.9K
$1.90฿62.0
-60.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87₫23.0K
$2.20฿71.6
-60.45%
Eggs
$1.40₫36.8K
$2.22฿72.4
-36.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.87₫311.7K
$19.99฿651
-40.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.88₫49.4K
$3.66฿119
-48.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.64₫253.0K
$13.25฿432
-27.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.08₫54.5K
$3.23฿105
-35.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11₫29.2K
$1.70฿55.3
-34.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.17₫30.7K
$2.39฿78.0
-51.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.94₫24.8K
$2.08฿67.7
-54.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11₫29.2K
$1.59฿51.8
-30.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23₫32.3K
$1.48฿48.31
-16.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44₫11.5K
$1.03฿33.54
-57.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47₫12.2K
$0.52฿16.83
-9.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.28₫33.6K
$4.25฿138
-69.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.76₫203.8K
$18.79฿612
-58.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.40₫10.4K
$1.76฿57.2
-77.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₫19.9K
$2.76฿89.8
-72.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Bien Hoa
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35₫9,092
$1.36฿44.32
-74.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.08₫185.8K
$11.36฿370
-37.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.40₫10.5K
$3.14฿102
-87.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65₫17.1K
$1.04฿33.74
-37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.17₫30.6K
$13.77฿448
-91.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84₫22.0K
$1.34฿43.79
-37.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K₫999.0M
$27.7K฿901.4K
37.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K₫737.4M
$33.9K฿1.1M
-17.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bien Hoa
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.4₫1.4M
$124฿4,025
-58.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25₫111.6K
$13.52฿440
-68.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.04₫184.9K
$18.69฿609
-62.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bien Hoa
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.76₫282.4K
$61.8฿2,013
-82.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.60₫199.5K
$17.25฿562
-55.94%
Cinema Ticket
$3.41₫89.5K
$9.14฿298
-62.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bien Hoa
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$65.8₫1.7M
$703฿22.9K
-90.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.1K₫371.2M
$15.9K฿517.0K
-10.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bien Hoa
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.30₫454.1K
$59.5฿1,937
-70.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.22₫399.6K
$35.07฿1,142
-56.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.7₫1.9M
$115฿3,754
-38.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.6₫2.2M
$84.1฿2,737
1.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bien Hoa
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$358₫9.4M
$619฿20.1K
-42.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246₫6.5M
$433฿14.1K
-43.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424₫11.1M
$2,062฿67.2K
-79.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$308₫8.1M
$1,511฿49.2K
-79.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,549₫40.7M
$3,646฿118.7K
-57.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$618₫16.2M
$2,626฿85.5K
-76.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bien Hoa
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$338₫8.9M
$507฿16.5K
-33.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.8
5.33
46.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bien Hoa: June 7, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $358 in Bien Hoa and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Bien Hoa vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $162 vs $293 per month, with Bien Hoa 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
Bien Hoa vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Bien Hoa?
Bien Hoa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bien Hoa or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 50% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Bien Hoa and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $358 in Bien Hoa versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Bien Hoa and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 81% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Bien Hoa or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Bien Hoa – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Bien Hoa or Phuket?
At $625 in Bien Hoa versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bien Hoa but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Bien Hoa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bien Hoa or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Bien Hoa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Bien Hoa or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Bien Hoa 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bien Hoa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.