Cost of Living Comparison Between Jambi and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Jambi and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $668 in Jambi versus $1,270 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,041 in Jambi versus $2,304 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,414 in Jambi versus $3,339 in Phuket.

Living in Jambi costs roughly 47% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jambi 50% lower, Phuket 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jambi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.67 Rp 28.7K
$4.66 ฿150
-64.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.52 Rp 318.3K
$46.44 ฿1,496
-60.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.32 Rp 57.1K
$8.68 ฿280
-61.75%
Cappuccino
$1.41 Rp 24.2K
$2.95 ฿95.0
-52.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 Rp 21.7K
$0.70 ฿22.52
80.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 Rp 3,954
$0.39 ฿12.70
-41.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 Rp 43.5K
$2.53 ฿81.6
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 Rp 42.7K
$3.78 ฿122
-34.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jambi
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 Rp 20.8K
$2.22 ฿71.5
-45.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.17 Rp 20.1K
$1.80 ฿57.8
-35.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 Rp 15.3K
$2.19 ฿70.4
-59.36%
Eggs
$1.54 Rp 26.5K
$2.31 ฿74.5
-33.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.94 Rp 136.4K
$19.34 ฿623
-58.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.13 Rp 53.8K
$3.77 ฿121
-16.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.73 Rp 132.8K
$13.22 ฿426
-41.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 Rp 41.5K
$3.33 ฿107
-27.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 Rp 25.7K
$1.65 ฿53.1
-9.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 31.8K
$2.29 ฿73.7
-19.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 26.9K
$1.99 ฿64.1
-21.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 Rp 23.9K
$1.53 ฿49.24
-9.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.89 Rp 32.5K
$1.51 ฿48.77
25.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 Rp 16.7K
$1.03 ฿33.12
-5.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 7,673
$0.51 ฿16.57
-11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.56 Rp 44.0K
$4.41 ฿142
-41.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.65 Rp 406.4K
$19.41 ฿625
21.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 Rp 35.9K
$1.80 ฿58.0
16.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 Rp 53.3K
$2.68 ฿86.4
15.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Jambi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,582
$1.43 ฿46.11
-77.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.03 Rp 172.3K
$11.70 ฿377
-14.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.54 Rp 9,242
$3.04 ฿97.9
-82.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 5,941
$1.04 ฿33.37
-66.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.85 Rp 49.0K
$13.68 ฿441
-79.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.2K
$1.30 ฿41.85
-36.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K Rp 429.7M
$27.9K ฿898.9K
-10.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K Rp 466.6M
$33.0K ฿1.1M
-17.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jambi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.8 Rp 1.2M
$123 ฿3,962
-43.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.39 Rp 75.4K
$13.82 ฿445
-68.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.54 Rp 387.4K
$18.86 ฿608
19.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jambi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.21 Rp 295.7K
$61.2 ฿1,970
-71.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.27 Rp 107.8K
$16.81 ฿541
-62.70%
Cinema Ticket
$2.79 Rp 47.9K
$8.87 ฿286
-68.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jambi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.9 Rp 1.6M
$696 ฿22.4K
-86.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,452 Rp 128.1M
$16.1K ฿517.4K
-53.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jambi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.00 Rp 721.7K
$59.3 ฿1,910
-29.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.46 Rp 523.5K
$34.85 ฿1,123
-12.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.5 Rp 1.2M
$113 ฿3,646
-40.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.6 Rp 1.3M
$85.1 ฿2,740
-13.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jambi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$257 Rp 4.4M
$615 ฿19.8K
-58.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$159 Rp 2.7M
$448 ฿14.4K
-64.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$587 Rp 10.1M
$2,085 ฿67.2K
-71.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$334 Rp 5.7M
$1,496 ฿48.2K
-77.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,200 Rp 20.6M
$3,734 ฿120.3K
-67.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$837 Rp 14.4M
$2,662 ฿85.8K
-68.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jambi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$217 Rp 3.7M
$534 ฿17.2K
-59.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
5.33
71.67%

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

Last update for Jambi: April 22, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $257 in Jambi and $615 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 146% 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: $19 in Jambi vs $46 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $291 per month, with Jambi 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
Jambi vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Jambi and Phuket?
Jambi and Phuket differ by about 90% in total monthly costs ($668 vs $1,270 including rent). Jambi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Phuket earns 146% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Jambi and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $257 in Jambi versus $615 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Jambi or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $668 per month in Jambi versus $1,270 in Phuket – a 90% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Jambi and Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Jambi runs roughly 17% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $668 in Jambi versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jambi but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Jambi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Jambi and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Jambi or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Jambi 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.
Where should expats move: Jambi or Phuket?
Expats usually find Jambi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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