😐A single person spends $1,927 per month in Bundaberg vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,986 per month in Bundaberg vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,044 per month in Bundaberg vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Bundaberg costs about 52% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Bundaberg sits 45% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bundaberg
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.35A$23.19
$4.48฿150
264.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.9A$90.7
$45.59฿1,521
40.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.04A$11.41
$8.76฿292
-8.22%
Cappuccino
$3.42A$4.85
$2.97฿99.0
15.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31A$3.28
$0.69฿22.90
234.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93A$2.73
$0.39฿13.04
394.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.11A$7.26
$2.53฿84.4
101.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15A$10.14
$3.75฿125
90.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bundaberg
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17A$3.08
$2.15฿71.6
0.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79A$2.53
$1.82฿60.6
-1.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.12A$4.42
$2.18฿72.9
43.12%
Eggs
$4.14A$5.87
$2.25฿75.0
84.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.27A$13.15
$20.00฿667
-53.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.30A$14.62
$3.63฿121
183.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.06A$29.88
$13.56฿452
55.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.41A$4.84
$3.24฿108
5.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.44A$3.46
$1.64฿54.6
48.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.52A$3.58
$2.33฿77.8
8.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.96A$5.61
$2.07฿69.1
91.30%
Potato(1kg)
$2.95A$4.19
$1.55฿51.6
90.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.25A$3.20
$1.46฿48.54
54.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96A$2.79
$0.98฿32.86
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.39A$4.81
$0.48฿16.09
606.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$28.58A$40.55
$4.35฿145
557.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.98A$18.42
$18.57฿620
-30.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$6.80A$9.64
$1.86฿61.9
265.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.30A$10.36
$2.65฿88.6
175.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Bundaberg
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.54A$3.61
$1.42฿47.28
78.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.9A$80.7
$11.57฿386
391.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.27A$1.80
$3.17฿106
-59.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.03A$4.30
$1.03฿34.41
194.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.67A$47.77
$13.89฿463
142.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22A$1.73
$1.34฿44.84
-8.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KA$37.1K
$27.8K฿927.1K
-5.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KA$37.0K
$33.4K฿1.1M
-21.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bundaberg
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130A$185
$123฿4,105
5.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.55A$36.25
$13.77฿459
85.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.7A$79.1
$18.33฿611
204.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bundaberg
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.94A$36.80
$60.7฿2,025
-57.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.22A$18.76
$17.16฿573
-22.96%
Cinema Ticket
$11.85A$16.81
$8.87฿296
33.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bundaberg
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$454A$645
$688฿22.9K
-33.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.0KA$27.0K
$15.8K฿526.4K
20.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bundaberg
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.7A$110
$59.3฿1,978
30.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.1A$95.2
$34.69฿1,157
93.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122A$173
$115฿3,843
6.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147A$209
$83.8฿2,794
75.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bundaberg
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$779A$1,106
$621฿20.7K
25.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$750A$1,064
$446฿14.9K
68.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534A$2,177
$2,034฿67.8K
-24.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,296A$1,839
$1,496฿49.9K
-13.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,399A$9,080
$3,455฿115.3K
85.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,892A$6,942
$2,531฿84.4K
93.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bundaberg
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,756A$3,911
$494฿16.5K
458.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
5.33
21.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bundaberg: July 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $779 in Bundaberg versus $621 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 458% higher in Bundaberg, 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 $64.0 in Bundaberg versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $409 vs $291 – 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
Bundaberg vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bundaberg or Phuket?
Bundaberg costs about 52% 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 Bundaberg and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,891 per month in Bundaberg and $1,896 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bundaberg 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Bundaberg or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 41% more in Bundaberg, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Bundaberg and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Bundaberg and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Bundaberg or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Bundaberg at $1,927. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bundaberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bundaberg or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,264 versus $1,927 in Bundaberg. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bundaberg 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 Bundaberg or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bundaberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.