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 $1,213 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,046 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,879 per month in Kuta, Bali vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.

Kuta, Bali is about 3% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kuta, Bali and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kuta, Bali 12% lower, Phuket 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.99 Rp 52.7K
$4.56 ฿150
-34.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.50 Rp 590.6K
$32.62 ฿1,072
2.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 85.4K
$8.90 ฿293
-45.62%
Cappuccino
$2.40 Rp 42.3K
$2.80 ฿92.2
-14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 Rp 24.8K
$0.88 ฿28.93
59.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 Rp 11.2K
$0.49 ฿16.08
28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 Rp 42.9K
$2.39 ฿78.5
1.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 Rp 67.3K
$3.71 ฿122
2.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 Rp 26.8K
$1.79 ฿58.7
-15.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.15 Rp 38.0K
$1.44 ฿47.38
49.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$1.58 ฿52.1
-29.75%
Eggs
$2.02 Rp 35.6K
$2.13 ฿69.9
-5.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.93 Rp 298.5K
$19.92 ฿655
-15.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.80 Rp 67.1K
$3.43 ฿113
10.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.51 Rp 203.0K
$11.33 ฿372
1.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.54 Rp 62.4K
$2.95 ฿96.9
20.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.1K
$1.72 ฿56.6
-10.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 38.6K
$2.32 ฿76.4
-5.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.94 Rp 34.1K
$2.08 ฿68.4
-6.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 Rp 31.9K
$1.47 ฿48.33
23.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.1K
$1.36 ฿44.64
71.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 Rp 16.3K
$1.10 ฿36.12
-15.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,610
$0.57 ฿18.89
-14.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15 Rp 38.0K
$4.27 ฿140
-49.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.88 Rp 403.4K
$18.42 ฿605
24.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 Rp 40.4K
$1.87 ฿61.5
22.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 Rp 46.7K
$2.92 ฿96.0
-9.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,335
$2.22 ฿72.9
-86.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.44 Rp 166.5K
$22.90 ฿753
-58.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 Rp 8,952
$3.03 ฿99.6
-83.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 Rp 9,356
$1.07 ฿35.31
-50.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.70 Rp 47.6K
$3.93 ฿129
-31.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 Rp 16.0K
$1.49 ฿49.04
-39.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K Rp 484.8M
$27.1K ฿891.7K
1.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K Rp 607.7M
$27.5K ฿902.3K
25.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.3 Rp 1.5M
$103 ฿3,379
-18.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.50 Rp 114.6K
$10.99 ฿361
-40.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.95 Rp 334.1K
$17.51 ฿576
8.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.81 Rp 860.6K
$53.5 ฿1,760
-8.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29 Rp 287.3K
$11.20 ฿368
45.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.81 Rp 67.2K
$7.48 ฿246
-49.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$442 Rp 7.8M
$557 ฿18.3K
-20.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,194 Rp 91.6M
$11.9K ฿389.6K
-56.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.89 Rp 809.2K
$64.1 ฿2,106
-28.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 Rp 618.3K
$29.07 ฿956
20.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$96.0 ฿3,154
-16.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.6 Rp 1.4M
$90.3 ฿2,970
-11.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 Rp 16.2M
$730 ฿24.0K
25.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$568 Rp 10.0M
$500 ฿16.4K
13.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,928 Rp 51.6M
$2,090 ฿68.7K
40.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,418 Rp 25.0M
$1,209 ฿39.7K
17.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,348 Rp 41.4M
$3,596 ฿118.2K
-34.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,890 Rp 33.3M
$2,512 ฿82.6K
-24.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuta, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$503 ฿16.5K
-
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 Kuta, Bali: September 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $919 in Kuta, Bali versus $730 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 $33.00 in Kuta, Bali versus $33.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $281 in Kuta, Bali vs $273 in Phuket – so Phuket wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 3% 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 and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,819 per month in Kuta, Bali and $1,880 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 and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Kuta, Bali and $33.00 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 $1,213 in Kuta, Bali and $1,253 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 in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kuta, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,213, than in Phuket at $1,253. 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 $1,213 versus $1,253 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 to 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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