😐A single person spends $4,842 per month in Hamilton vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $9,251 per month in Hamilton vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $13.7K per month in Hamilton vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Hamilton costs about 287% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Hamilton sits 262% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$59.9BMD 59.9
$4.55฿153
1215.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$177BMD 177
$46.18฿1,554
282.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.27BMD 15.27
$8.84฿298
72.74%
Cappuccino
$6.40BMD 6.40
$3.06฿103
109.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50BMD 3.50
$0.73฿24.42
379.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98BMD 2.98
$0.40฿13.40
645.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.17BMD 10.17
$2.43฿81.8
318.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.41BMD 8.41
$3.78฿127
122.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$4.34BMD 4.34
$2.26฿76.0
92.04%
White Bread(500g)
$9.00BMD 9.00
$1.81฿60.9
397.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.37BMD 5.37
$2.25฿75.8
138.67%
Eggs
$7.57BMD 7.57
$2.25฿75.6
236.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.68BMD 11.68
$19.51฿656
-40.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$24.47BMD 24.47
$3.65฿123
570.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$31.87BMD 31.87
$13.05฿439
144.21%
Apples(1kg)
$10.38BMD 10.38
$3.23฿109
221.36%
Banana(1kg)
$6.27BMD 6.27
$1.62฿54.4
287.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$12.59BMD 12.59
$2.38฿80.2
428.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$11.30BMD 11.30
$2.03฿68.2
456.65%
Potato(1kg)
$8.40BMD 8.40
$1.53฿51.6
449.02%
Onion(1kg)
$4.98BMD 4.98
$1.50฿50.5
232.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$5.83BMD 5.83
$0.98฿32.93
494.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$3.20BMD 3.20
$0.52฿17.40
515.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.49BMD 17.49
$4.44฿149
293.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.59BMD 24.59
$18.32฿616
34.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.26BMD 5.26
$1.86฿62.7
182.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63BMD 4.63
$2.68฿90.2
72.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.80BMD 4.80
$1.41฿47.49
240.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.1BMD 70.1
$11.70฿394
498.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.09BMD 6.09
$3.11฿105
95.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.43BMD 3.43
$1.04฿35.08
229.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$54.2BMD 54.2
$14.11฿475
284.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.37BMD 2.37
$1.31฿44.13
80.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KBMD 34.4K
$27.8K฿936.0K
23.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6KBMD 39.6K
$33.2K฿1.1M
19.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$234BMD 234
$122฿4,120
91.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$121BMD 121
$13.59฿457
788.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$154BMD 154
$18.70฿629
726.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$185BMD 185
$60.5฿2,035
205.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.99BMD 32.99
$16.98฿572
94.29%
Cinema Ticket
$13.72BMD 13.72
$9.07฿305
51.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,339BMD 1,339
$706฿23.8K
89.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.6KBMD 24.6K
$15.8K฿531.8K
55.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.5BMD 78.5
$58.6฿1,970
33.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.1BMD 61.1
$35.36฿1,190
72.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$135BMD 135
$115฿3,885
17.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130BMD 130
$83.7฿2,818
54.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,377BMD 3,377
$626฿21.1K
439.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,260BMD 2,260
$445฿15.0K
407.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$8,611BMD 8,611
$2,040฿68.7K
322.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$7,542BMD 7,542
$1,492฿50.2K
405.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$14.6KBMD 14.6K
$3,483฿117.2K
319.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$9,325BMD 9,325
$2,577฿86.7K
261.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$6,684BMD 6,684
$500฿16.8K
1237.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.22
5.33
35.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamilton: July 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $3,377 in Hamilton versus $626 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 1237% higher in Hamilton, 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 $177 in Hamilton versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $816 vs $289 – 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
Hamilton vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Hamilton and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $4,842 in Hamilton, $1,250 in Phuket – roughly 287% apart. Hamilton costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Hamilton compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,263 per month in Hamilton and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Hamilton and 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $177 in Hamilton and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Hamilton or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $4,842 in Hamilton and $1,250 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Hamilton at $4,842. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Hamilton and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Hamilton has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,250 in Phuket to $4,842 in Hamilton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Hamilton 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 Hamilton and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hamilton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.