Cost of Living Comparison Between Bologna and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Bologna and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $2,219 per month in Bologna vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,491 per month in Bologna vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,764 per month in Bologna vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Bologna costs about 77% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Bologna sits 62% above the global median, while Phuket is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bologna
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.38€20.10
$4.56฿150
412.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.6€80.5
$32.62฿1,073
187.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.98€12.02
$8.90฿293
57.08%
Cappuccino
$2.26€1.95
$2.80฿92.2
-19.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72€3.20
$0.88฿28.94
322.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.61
$0.49฿16.08
283.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.90€5.93
$2.39฿78.5
188.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.86€5.04
$3.71฿122
57.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bologna
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43€1.23
$1.79฿58.8
-20.11%
White Bread(500g)
$3.13€2.69
$1.44฿47.40
117.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.09€2.66
$1.58฿52.1
95.57%
Eggs
$4.14€3.56
$2.13฿69.9
94.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$21.07€18.12
$19.92฿655
5.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.79€11.00
$3.43฿113
272.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.97€18.89
$11.33฿372
93.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.51€2.16
$2.95฿97.0
-14.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.44€2.10
$1.72฿56.6
41.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82€2.43
$2.32฿76.5
21.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.61€3.11
$2.08฿68.4
73.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$1.47฿48.34
30.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$1.36฿44.65
36.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44€1.24
$1.10฿36.13
30.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57€0.49
$0.57฿18.89
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.40€6.36
$4.27฿140
73.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.04€6.91
$18.42฿606
-56.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01€1.73
$1.87฿61.5
7.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85€2.45
$2.92฿96.1
-2.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Bologna
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.61€2.24
$2.22฿73.0
17.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.90€39.46
$22.90฿753
100.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.77€4.10
$3.03฿99.6
57.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71€1.47
$1.07฿35.32
59.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.87€29.12
$3.93฿129
761.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15€1.84
$1.49฿49.06
44.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K€32.2K
$27.1K฿892.0K
38.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.2K€32.0K
$27.5K฿902.6K
35.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bologna
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$255€219
$103฿3,380
148.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.63€10.00
$10.99฿361
5.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.90€27.43
$17.51฿576
82.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bologna
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.8€57.4
$53.5฿1,760
24.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.56€23.69
$11.20฿368
146.07%
Cinema Ticket
$10.59€9.11
$7.48฿246
41.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bologna
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$792€681
$557฿18.3K
42.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.8K€14.4K
$11.9K฿389.7K
41.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bologna
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.9€83.3
$64.1฿2,107
51.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.47€41.67
$29.07฿956
66.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120€104
$96.0฿3,155
25.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155€134
$90.3฿2,970
72.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bologna
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,180€1,014
$730฿24.0K
61.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$908€781
$500฿16.4K
81.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,191€1,883
$2,090฿68.7K
4.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,647€1,416
$1,209฿39.8K
36.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,201€4,471
$3,596฿118.2K
44.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,918€3,368
$2,512฿82.6K
55.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bologna
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,252€1,936
$503฿16.6K
347.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.22
5.57
-42.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bologna: August 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,180 in Bologna versus $730 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 347% higher in Bologna, 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 $94.0 in Bologna versus $33.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $378 vs $273 – 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
Bologna vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bologna or Phuket?
Bologna costs about 77% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bologna and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,329 per month in Bologna and $1,880 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bologna or Phuket?
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.
How expensive is transport in Bologna compared to Phuket?
Public transport costs about 100% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Bologna and in Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $792 per month in Bologna and $557 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bologna or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,253, than in Bologna at $2,219. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bologna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bologna or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,253 versus $2,219 in Bologna. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bologna compared to 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.
Should I move to Bologna or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bologna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.