🙂A single person spends $947 per month in Bijeljina vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,485 per month in Bijeljina vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,024 per month in Bijeljina vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Bijeljina is about 23% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Bijeljina and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Bijeljina31% lower, Phuket10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bijeljina
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.87BAM 15.12
$4.41฿147
101.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.86BAM 61.1
$32.26฿1,077
11.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.80BAM 8.19
$8.93฿298
-46.25%
Cappuccino
$1.45BAM 2.47
$2.90฿96.6
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73BAM 2.94
$0.88฿29.38
96.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03BAM 1.76
$0.48฿16.06
114.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78BAM 3.04
$2.35฿78.5
-24.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32BAM 3.95
$3.72฿124
-37.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bijeljina
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63BAM 2.77
$1.87฿62.3
-12.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22BAM 2.08
$1.47฿48.94
-17.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74BAM 2.96
$1.55฿51.8
12.26%
Eggs
$3.21BAM 5.47
$2.10฿70.1
52.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.63BAM 13.00
$19.59฿654
-61.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.06BAM 13.75
$3.42฿114
135.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.11BAM 20.65
$11.38฿380
6.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.68BAM 2.86
$2.98฿99.6
-43.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84BAM 3.14
$1.68฿56.2
9.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91BAM 3.26
$2.21฿73.7
-13.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.65BAM 4.52
$2.16฿72.1
22.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64BAM 2.79
$1.52฿50.9
7.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45BAM 2.47
$1.34฿44.67
8.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16BAM 1.98
$1.13฿37.67
2.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67BAM 1.15
$0.55฿18.24
21.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.76BAM 6.42
$4.26฿142
-11.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.67BAM 14.78
$19.09฿637
-54.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91BAM 1.56
$1.78฿59.4
-48.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44BAM 2.45
$2.78฿92.9
-48.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Bijeljina
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.32BAM 3.96
$2.23฿74.4
4.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.54BAM 29.91
$22.74฿759
-22.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47BAM 2.50
$3.03฿101
-51.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58BAM 0.98
$1.02฿34.15
-43.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.64BAM 18.14
$3.89฿130
173.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49BAM 2.54
$1.49฿49.77
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6KBAM 53.8K
$26.6K฿887.3K
18.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0KBAM 32.3K
$27.0K฿902.2K
-29.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bijeljina
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141BAM 241
$102฿3,420
38.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.81BAM 32.07
$11.33฿378
66.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.14BAM 41.15
$17.40฿581
38.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bijeljina
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.37BAM 51.8
$52.1฿1,738
-41.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.65BAM 14.75
$11.07฿370
-21.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97BAM 8.47
$7.69฿257
-35.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bijeljina
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$212BAM 361
$561฿18.7K
-62.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,356BAM 7,426
$11.5K฿384.1K
-62.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bijeljina
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9BAM 100
$63.0฿2,104
-6.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.51BAM 45.20
$29.52฿986
-10.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133BAM 226
$98.0฿3,272
35.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126BAM 214
$88.5฿2,954
42.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bijeljina
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259BAM 442
$738฿24.6K
-64.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$169BAM 289
$482฿16.1K
-64.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$362BAM 617
$2,107฿70.3K
-82.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292BAM 497
$1,226฿40.9K
-76.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,856BAM 3,165
$3,617฿120.7K
-48.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,365BAM 2,327
$2,603฿86.9K
-47.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bijeljina
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$780BAM 1,330
$494฿16.5K
58.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
5.57
7.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bijeljina: September 15, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Bijeljina versus $738 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 58% higher in Bijeljina, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Bijeljina versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $233 in Bijeljina vs $274 in Phuket – so Bijeljina wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Bijeljina vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bijeljina and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $947 in Bijeljina, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 30% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bijeljina compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Bijeljina and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bijeljina and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bijeljina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bijeljina or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $947 in Bijeljina and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Bijeljina and in Phuket?
Public transport costs about 30% less in Bijeljina. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bijeljina, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Bijeljina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Bijeljina and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $947 in Bijeljina to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bijeljina or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Bijeljina and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Bijeljina. 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.