Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamilton and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,857 per month in Hamilton vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $9,118 per month in Hamilton vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $13.4K per month in Hamilton vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Hamilton costs about 284% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Hamilton sits 252% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$50.1 BMD 50.1
$4.66 ฿153
975.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$151 BMD 151
$32.22 ฿1,059
368.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$16.91 BMD 16.91
$8.68 ฿285
94.82%
Cappuccino
$6.22 BMD 6.22
$2.90 ฿95.3
114.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 BMD 3.11
$0.84 ฿27.75
270.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 BMD 3.08
$0.49 ฿16.08
528.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.47 BMD 7.47
$2.48 ฿81.6
201.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.09 BMD 9.09
$3.73 ฿123
143.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$4.54 BMD 4.54
$1.89 ฿62.0
140.21%
White Bread (500g)
$8.49 BMD 8.49
$1.41 ฿46.31
502.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.45 BMD 5.45
$1.62 ฿53.3
236.42%
Eggs
$7.60 BMD 7.60
$2.24 ฿73.7
239.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.75 BMD 18.75
$19.84 ฿652
-5.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$23.05 BMD 23.05
$3.48 ฿114
562.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.43 BMD 27.43
$11.37 ฿374
141.25%
Apples (1kg)
$12.87 BMD 12.87
$2.90 ฿95.3
343.79%
Banana (1kg)
$6.57 BMD 6.57
$1.72 ฿56.7
281.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.06 BMD 7.06
$2.27 ฿74.7
211.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.96 BMD 3.96
$2.13 ฿70.1
85.92%
Potato (1kg)
$6.94 BMD 6.94
$1.47 ฿48.49
372.11%
Onion (1kg)
$3.09 BMD 3.09
$1.42 ฿46.69
117.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$6.46 BMD 6.46
$1.10 ฿36.08
487.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.58 BMD 3.58
$0.60 ฿19.66
496.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$17.93 BMD 17.93
$4.31 ฿142
316.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.64 BMD 24.64
$18.60 ฿612
32.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.05 BMD 5.05
$1.80 ฿59.2
180.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 BMD 4.42
$2.97 ฿97.5
48.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.96 BMD 4.96
$2.25 ฿73.8
120.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.2 BMD 70.2
$23.49 ฿772
198.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.47 BMD 6.47
$3.10 ฿102
108.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.96 BMD 2.96
$1.08 ฿35.39
174.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$71.4 BMD 71.4
$3.87 ฿127
1743.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.42 BMD 2.42
$1.43 ฿46.93
69.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K BMD 37.2K
$27.8K ฿913.6K
33.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.4K BMD 42.4K
$27.0K ฿887.2K
57.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$252 BMD 252
$105 ฿3,446
140.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$150 BMD 150
$11.39 ฿375
1213.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$164 BMD 164
$17.54 ฿577
834.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$185 BMD 185
$54.3 ฿1,787
241.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.90 BMD 14.90
$11.44 ฿376
30.24%
Cinema Ticket
$13.59 BMD 13.59
$7.78 ฿256
74.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,299 BMD 1,299
$576 ฿19.0K
125.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.0K BMD 25.0K
$11.6K ฿380.8K
116.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.6 BMD 90.6
$63.6 ฿2,092
42.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.7 BMD 69.7
$29.10 ฿957
139.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$143 BMD 143
$96.2 ฿3,164
49.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130 BMD 130
$90.0 ฿2,960
44.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,714 BMD 3,714
$733 ฿24.1K
406.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,451 BMD 2,451
$501 ฿16.5K
389.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,589 BMD 8,589
$2,126 ฿69.9K
304.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$7,834 BMD 7,834
$1,252 ฿41.2K
525.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.0K BMD 15.0K
$3,534 ฿116.2K
325.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,099 BMD 9,099
$2,622 ฿86.2K
247.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,749 BMD 6,749
$508 ฿16.7K
1229.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.63
5.57
54.94%

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

Last update for Hamilton: September 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,714 in Hamilton versus $733 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 1230% 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 $151 in Hamilton versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $767 vs $275 – 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: $4,857 in Hamilton, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 284% apart. Hamilton costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Hamilton compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,286 per month in Hamilton 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 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 $151 in Hamilton and $32.00 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 $4,857 in Hamilton and $1,265 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 $1,265, than in Hamilton at $4,857. 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 $1,265 in Phuket to $4,857 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.

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