Cost of Living Comparison Between Bolands and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Bolands and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $300 in Bolands versus $1,232 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $298 in Bolands versus $2,255 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $297 in Bolands versus $3,279 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Bolands costs roughly 76% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bolands78% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bolands
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$4.63฿151
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$46.84฿1,532
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.84฿289
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.00฿98.0
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.74฿24.25
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.37฿11.95
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.44฿79.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.61฿118
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bolands
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$2.26฿73.9
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.84฿60.1
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$2.24฿73.4
-
Eggs
-
$2.32฿75.7
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$19.67฿643
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.65฿119
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.10฿428
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.39฿111
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.64฿53.7
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.41฿79.0
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.03฿66.4
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.56฿50.9
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.50฿48.94
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.02฿33.50
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.49฿16.00
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.45฿145
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.88฿617
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78฿58.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.75฿90.1
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bolands
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.40฿45.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48฿376
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.12฿102
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.00฿32.67
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$14.09฿461
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.35฿44.19
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.2K฿888.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.9K฿1.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bolands
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$225EC$607
$125฿4,087
80.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.57฿444
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.5EC$201
$18.52฿606
302.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bolands
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.5฿2,010
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84฿551
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.19฿300
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bolands
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$698฿22.8K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.6K฿509.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bolands
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.8฿1,889
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$35.24฿1,152
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$113฿3,699
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$86.4฿2,825
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bolands
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$616฿20.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$446฿14.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,048฿67.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,492฿48.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,779฿123.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,649฿86.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bolands
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$524฿17.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bolands: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
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
Bolands vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Bolands?
Bolands is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 311% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $449 in Bolands and $1,847 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Bolands or Phuket?
At $300 in Bolands versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bolands but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Bolands the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bolands or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Bolands 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, Bolands or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Bolands 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 Bolands gentler on the wallet – expenses run 311% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.