Cost of Living Comparison Between Bourges and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Bourges and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,983 in Bourges versus $1,253 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,038 in Bourges versus $2,043 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,093 in Bourges versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Bourges is roughly 58% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bourges is 44% above, Phuket is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bourges
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.47€15.04
$4.56฿150
283.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.5€59.8
$32.62฿1,072
112.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.22€12.24
$8.90฿293
59.78%
Cappuccino
$4.45€3.83
$2.80฿92.2
58.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95€2.54
$0.88฿28.93
235.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.55
$0.49฿16.08
267.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.15€7.01
$2.39฿78.5
241.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.96€5.13
$3.71฿122
60.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bourges
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.79฿58.7
-34.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07€1.78
$1.44฿47.38
43.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.39€2.05
$1.58฿52.1
51.27%
Eggs
$4.81€4.14
$2.13฿69.9
125.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.11€19.89
$19.92฿655
16.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.59€11.70
$3.43฿113
296.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.81€23.93
$11.33฿372
145.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.44€2.10
$2.95฿96.9
-17.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53€2.17
$1.72฿56.6
47.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.51€3.02
$2.32฿76.4
51.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.31€2.85
$2.08฿68.4
59.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.93€2.52
$1.47฿48.33
99.32%
Onion(1kg)
$3.14€2.70
$1.36฿44.64
130.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50€1.29
$1.10฿36.12
36.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.01
$0.57฿18.89
107.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.68€12.63
$4.27฿140
243.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.24€7.09
$18.42฿605
-55.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87€2.47
$1.87฿61.5
53.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66€3.15
$2.92฿96.0
25.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Bourges
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95€1.68
$2.22฿72.9
-12.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$50.8€43.74
$22.90฿753
122.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$8.66€7.45
$3.03฿99.6
185.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.24€1.93
$1.07฿35.31
109.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.93€37.80
$3.93฿129
1017.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.32€2.00
$1.49฿49.04
55.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K€31.5K
$27.1K฿891.7K
34.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K€31.4K
$27.5K฿902.3K
32.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bourges
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$266€229
$103฿3,379
159.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.08€6.95
$10.99฿361
-26.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.19€28.56
$17.51฿576
89.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bourges
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.02€31.00
$53.5฿1,760
-32.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.20฿368
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.77€11.85
$7.48฿246
84.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bourges
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$666€573
$557฿18.3K
19.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7K€10.1K
$11.9K฿389.6K
-1.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bourges
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$119€103
$64.1฿2,106
86.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.70€41.91
$29.07฿956
67.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130€112
$96.0฿3,154
35.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€112
$90.3฿2,970
44.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bourges
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$657€566
$730฿24.0K
-10.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$652€561
$500฿16.4K
30.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,228€1,057
$2,090฿68.7K
-41.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,125€968
$1,209฿39.7K
-6.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,738€4,077
$3,596฿118.2K
31.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,213€2,765
$2,512฿82.6K
27.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bourges
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,921€2,513
$503฿16.5K
480.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.71
5.57
-33.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bourges: August 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Bourges and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bourges pays 480% 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: $69.0 in Bourges vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $413 vs $273 per month, with Phuket 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
Bourges vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bourges or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 58% lower than in Bourges. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bourges or in Phuket?
Average pay runs 480% higher in Bourges, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bourges compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $657 in Bourges versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Bourges and in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $69.0 in Bourges. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Bourges compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,983 per month in Bourges versus $1,253 in Phuket – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bourges or in Phuket?
At $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,983 in Bourges, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Bourges. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bourges or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,253 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Bourges compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Bourges 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Bourges. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.