Cost of Living Comparison Between Borama and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Borama and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $94.0 per month in Borama vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $243 per month in Borama vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $392 per month in Borama vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Borama is about 93% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Borama and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Borama93% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Borama
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$4.70฿153
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$45.37฿1,482
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.43฿275
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.93฿95.6
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.69฿22.40
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.37฿11.99
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.41฿78.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.72฿122
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Borama
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98SOS 557
$2.23฿72.9
-56.05%
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.83฿59.8
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$2.17฿70.8
-
Eggs
$3.02SOS 1,713
$2.21฿72.3
36.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$19.74฿645
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.91SOS 1,655
$3.63฿119
-19.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.53฿442
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.96SOS 1,114
$3.28฿107
-40.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02SOS 580
$1.61฿52.6
-36.65%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.41฿78.6
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.08฿68.1
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.53฿49.93
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.48฿48.36
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.99฿32.29
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.51฿16.67
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.41฿144
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$19.38฿633
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78฿58.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.71฿88.6
-
🚌 Getting Around
Borama
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.37฿44.79
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.39฿372
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.02฿98.6
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.99฿32.48
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$14.10฿461
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.36฿44.51
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$28.2K฿921.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.9K฿1.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Borama
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$122฿3,975
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.57฿443
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$18.31฿598
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Borama
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.2฿1,967
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14฿560
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$8.69฿284
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Borama
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$693฿22.6K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.7K฿512.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Borama
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$59.5฿1,944
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$34.77฿1,136
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$115฿3,743
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$83.3฿2,720
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Borama
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$58.9SOS 33.5K
$613฿20.0K
-90.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$40.40SOS 22.9K
$437฿14.3K
-90.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$303SOS 172.3K
$2,094฿68.4K
-85.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$252SOS 142.9K
$1,509฿49.3K
-83.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,749฿122.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,616฿85.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Borama
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$508฿16.6K
-
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 Borama: May 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $58.9 in Borama 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.
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
Borama vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Borama and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $94.0 in Borama, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 1246% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Borama compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $141 per month in Borama and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Borama and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Borama, 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: Borama or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $94.0 in Borama and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 459% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Borama, where all-in costs run around $94.0, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Borama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Borama and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $94.0 in Borama to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Borama 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 Borama and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Borama. 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.