Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gili Trawangan and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Gili Trawangan: $948 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Gili Trawangan
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$948
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gili Trawangan and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gili Trawangan and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $948 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,208 in Phuket.

  • Gili Trawangan $948
  • Phuket $1,208

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,580 in Gili Trawangan versus $2,027 in Phuket.

  • Gili Trawangan $1,580
  • Phuket $2,027

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,213 in Gili Trawangan versus $2,845 in Phuket.

  • Gili Trawangan $2,213
  • Phuket $2,845

Living in Gili Trawangan costs roughly 22% less than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gili Trawangan 30% lower, Phuket 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gili Trawangan
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$4.40 ฿147
-49.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.76 Rp 427.7K
$32.26 ฿1,078
-26.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.74 Rp 67.4K
$8.76 ฿293
-57.31%
Cappuccino
$1.83 Rp 32.9K
$2.83 ฿94.5
-35.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 Rp 19.7K
$0.90 ฿30.14
21.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,840
$0.47 ฿15.56
17.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 Rp 31.7K
$2.55 ฿85.2
-30.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$3.83 ฿128
-21.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gili Trawangan
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$1.73 ฿57.7
-32.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 Rp 31.6K
$1.47 ฿49.11
19.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 Rp 17.0K
$1.51 ฿50.6
-37.75%
Eggs
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$2.17 ฿72.7
-24.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 Rp 234.2K
$19.70 ฿658
-33.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 Rp 53.9K
$3.34 ฿112
-10.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.03 Rp 162.6K
$11.16 ฿373
-19.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
$2.85 ฿95.1
-5.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$1.70 ฿56.9
-31.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 Rp 31.9K
$2.19 ฿73.3
-19.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 Rp 26.2K
$2.05 ฿68.4
-29.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 Rp 24.7K
$1.45 ฿48.57
-5.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 Rp 31.7K
$1.38 ฿46.16
27.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 Rp 13.4K
$1.07 ฿35.69
-30.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,341
$0.51 ฿16.91
-19.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.73 Rp 31.1K
$4.26 ฿142
-59.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.33 Rp 311.9K
$18.58 ฿621
-6.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.6K
$1.78 ฿59.7
-1.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 Rp 40.0K
$2.85 ฿95.2
-22.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Gili Trawangan
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 Rp 3,778
$2.26 ฿75.6
-90.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.14 Rp 128.5K
$22.10 ฿738
-67.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.40 Rp 7,268
$3.01 ฿101
-86.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,649
$1.06 ฿35.34
-65.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.09 Rp 91.6K
$3.86 ฿129
31.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.68 Rp 12.3K
$1.45 ฿48.45
-53.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K Rp 370.8M
$26.3K ฿879.9K
-21.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K Rp 503.7M
$26.9K ฿900.4K
3.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gili Trawangan
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.7 Rp 1.3M
$96.4 ฿3,221
-27.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.49 Rp 98.9K
$11.04 ฿369
-50.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.46 Rp 278.3K
$17.14 ฿573
-9.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gili Trawangan
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.13 Rp 704.3K
$52.2 ฿1,744
-25.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.90 Rp 232.3K
$11.16 ฿373
15.59%
Cinema Ticket
$3.09 Rp 55.6K
$7.81 ฿261
-60.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gili Trawangan
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$347 Rp 6.3M
$556 ฿18.6K
-37.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,182 Rp 75.3M
$11.6K ฿387.0K
-63.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gili Trawangan
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.51 Rp 693.1K
$64.2 ฿2,146
-40.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.37 Rp 546.7K
$28.69 ฿959
5.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.6 Rp 1.2M
$95.4 ฿3,187
-30.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.8 Rp 1.2M
$88.0 ฿2,940
-22.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gili Trawangan
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$677 Rp 12.2M
$737 ฿24.6K
-8.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$419 Rp 7.5M
$462 ฿15.5K
-9.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,150 Rp 38.7M
$2,095 ฿70.0K
2.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,042 Rp 18.8M
$1,201 ฿40.1K
-13.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,665 Rp 30.0M
$3,488 ฿116.6K
-52.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,371 Rp 24.7M
$2,523 ฿84.3K
-45.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gili Trawangan
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$501 ฿16.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.57
147.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Gili Trawangan: October 19, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gili Trawangan
$419
Phuket
$462 10.3% $43
Groceries & Markets
Gili Trawangan
$219
Phuket
$269 22.9% $50
Clothing & Footwear
Gili Trawangan
$92
Phuket
$124 35.9% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gili Trawangan
$91
Phuket
$125 37.4% $34
Eating Out
Gili Trawangan
$72
Phuket
$121 67.4% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Gili Trawangan
$45
Phuket
$68 49.6% $22
Getting Around
Gili Trawangan
$10
Phuket
$39 286% $29

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $677 in Gili Trawangan and $737 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $24.00 in Gili Trawangan vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $269 per month, with Gili Trawangan cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Gili Trawangan
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
11:14 11:14 AM
10:14 10:14 AM
1 h behind Gili Trawangan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,500
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gili Trawangan Phuket 2,660 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Gili Trawangan
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Gili Trawangan vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Gili Trawangan?
Gili Trawangan is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,422 in Gili Trawangan and $1,813 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.
What is the rent difference between Gili Trawangan and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $677 in Gili Trawangan versus $737 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Gili Trawangan and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Gili Trawangan or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Gili Trawangan – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Gili Trawangan or in Phuket?
At $948 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,208 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gili Trawangan but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Gili Trawangan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Gili Trawangan or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Gili Trawangan 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, Gili Trawangan or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Gili Trawangan 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 Gili Trawangan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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