Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuta, Bali and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuta, Bali and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,240 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $1,247 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,243 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $2,276 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,246 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $3,306 in Phuket, rent included.

Kuta, Bali is about 1% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kuta, Bali and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kuta, Bali 8% lower, Phuket 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.06 Rp 52.4K
$4.59 ฿147
-33.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.99 Rp 479.7K
$46.83 ฿1,500
-40.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.25 Rp 72.8K
$8.70 ฿279
-51.15%
Cappuccino
$2.36 Rp 40.4K
$2.92 ฿93.7
-19.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 Rp 21.0K
$0.68 ฿21.90
79.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 Rp 11.1K
$0.40 ฿12.69
62.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.66 Rp 45.5K
$2.51 ฿80.3
5.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 Rp 59.6K
$3.80 ฿122
-8.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 Rp 28.3K
$2.16 ฿69.2
-23.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.31 Rp 39.6K
$1.88 ฿60.3
22.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 Rp 18.7K
$2.16 ฿69.1
-49.54%
Eggs
$2.36 Rp 40.4K
$2.22 ฿71.1
6.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.17 Rp 242.7K
$19.57 ฿627
-27.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.95 Rp 67.7K
$3.80 ฿122
3.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.34 Rp 194.3K
$13.41 ฿430
-15.44%
Apples (1kg)
$3.53 Rp 60.5K
$3.26 ฿104
8.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 26.1K
$1.61 ฿51.6
-5.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.0K
$2.31 ฿73.9
16.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 Rp 36.8K
$2.06 ฿65.9
4.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 Rp 31.3K
$1.61 ฿51.4
13.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 Rp 37.0K
$1.44 ฿46.23
50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 17.6K
$1.03 ฿32.99
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 11.8K
$0.48 ฿15.38
43.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.02 Rp 51.8K
$4.50 ฿144
-32.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.17 Rp 379.9K
$19.18 ฿614
15.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.0K
$1.82 ฿58.4
50.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 Rp 46.5K
$2.69 ฿86.2
0.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,517
$1.38 ฿44.13
-76.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.00 Rp 154.2K
$11.76 ฿377
-23.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.54 Rp 9,198
$3.11 ฿99.5
-82.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 Rp 8,493
$1.00 ฿32.16
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.78 Rp 116.2K
$13.74 ฿440
-50.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 Rp 16.1K
$1.30 ฿41.58
-27.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K Rp 499.4M
$27.4K ฿876.5K
6.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K Rp 613.1M
$33.0K ฿1.1M
8.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.0 Rp 1.4M
$125 ฿4,001
-35.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.96 Rp 67.9K
$13.74 ฿440
-71.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.50 Rp 402.7K
$18.61 ฿596
26.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$84.4 Rp 1.4M
$60.6 ฿1,940
39.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.57 Rp 95.5K
$17.15 ฿549
-67.52%
Cinema Ticket
$3.65 Rp 62.5K
$9.01 ฿289
-59.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$277 Rp 4.7M
$698 ฿22.4K
-60.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,904 Rp 101.2M
$16.1K ฿516.2K
-63.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.6 Rp 918.1K
$59.2 ฿1,897
-9.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.01 Rp 668.5K
$34.86 ฿1,117
11.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 Rp 1.5M
$114 ฿3,659
-24.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$85.8 ฿2,749
-7.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$828 Rp 14.2M
$619 ฿19.8K
33.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$562 Rp 9.6M
$437 ฿14.0K
28.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,798 Rp 47.9M
$2,075 ฿66.5K
34.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 Rp 29.3M
$1,509 ฿48.4K
13.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,445 Rp 41.9M
$3,764 ฿120.6K
-35.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,976 Rp 33.9M
$2,694 ฿86.3K
-26.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$528 ฿16.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
5.33
149.16%

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

Last update for Kuta, Bali: April 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $828 in Kuta, Bali versus $619 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28 in Kuta, Bali versus $47 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $292 – making Kuta, Bali 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
Kuta, Bali vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kuta, Bali or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 1% more than Kuta, Bali, 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 Kuta, Bali vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,860 per month in Kuta, Bali and $1,870 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kuta, Bali or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuta, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Kuta, Bali vs Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Kuta, Bali and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Kuta, Bali compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,240 in Kuta, Bali and $1,247 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kuta, Bali or Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kuta, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,240, than in Phuket at $1,247. In Kuta, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kuta, Bali or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kuta, Bali costs $1,240 versus $1,247 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kuta, Bali 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 Kuta, Bali or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Kuta, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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