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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $718 per month in Kuta, Lombok vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,200 per month in Kuta, Lombok vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,682 per month in Kuta, Lombok vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Kuta, Lombok is about 42% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kuta, Lombok and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kuta, Lombok 48% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.74 Rp 30.8K
$4.41 ฿147
-60.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.88 Rp 317.0K
$32.26 ฿1,074
-44.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.86 Rp 50.7K
$8.93 ฿297
-67.97%
Cappuccino
$1.40 Rp 24.8K
$2.90 ฿96.4
-51.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 Rp 15.2K
$0.88 ฿29.30
-2.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,157
$0.48 ฿16.01
-16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.46 Rp 25.8K
$2.35 ฿78.3
-37.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 Rp 39.7K
$3.72 ฿124
-39.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 Rp 19.2K
$1.87 ฿62.1
-42.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 Rp 26.2K
$1.47 ฿48.81
0.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.79 Rp 14.0K
$1.55 ฿51.7
-49.03%
Eggs
$1.41 Rp 24.9K
$2.10 ฿70.0
-32.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.57 Rp 205.1K
$19.59 ฿652
-40.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.71 Rp 48.0K
$3.42 ฿114
-20.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.10 Rp 143.7K
$11.38 ฿379
-28.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 Rp 42.7K
$2.98 ฿99.3
-19.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 Rp 18.4K
$1.68 ฿56.1
-38.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.3K
$2.21 ฿73.5
-28.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 Rp 24.0K
$2.16 ฿72.0
-37.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 Rp 22.0K
$1.52 ฿50.8
-18.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 Rp 28.1K
$1.34 ฿44.55
17.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
$1.13 ฿37.57
-37.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 Rp 5,913
$0.55 ฿18.19
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.49 Rp 26.5K
$4.26 ฿142
-65.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.30 Rp 271.3K
$19.09 ฿635
-19.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 Rp 28.5K
$1.78 ฿59.2
-9.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 Rp 35.4K
$2.78 ฿92.6
-28.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 Rp 2,914
$2.23 ฿74.2
-92.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.43 Rp 96.3K
$22.74 ฿757
-76.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 Rp 5,301
$3.03 ฿101
-90.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 Rp 4,889
$1.02 ฿34.06
-72.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.95 Rp 70.1K
$3.89 ฿130
1.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 Rp 8,665
$1.49 ฿49.63
-67.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.1K Rp 285.9M
$26.6K ฿884.9K
-39.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K Rp 366.9M
$27.0K ฿899.8K
-23.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.7 Rp 1.1M
$102 ฿3,411
-39.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.93 Rp 87.4K
$11.33 ฿377
-56.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.23 Rp 252.5K
$17.40 ฿579
-18.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.47 Rp 540.5K
$52.1 ฿1,734
-41.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.06 Rp 178.5K
$11.07 ฿369
-9.12%
Cinema Ticket
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
$7.69 ฿256
-69.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$315 Rp 5.6M
$561 ฿18.7K
-43.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,686 Rp 65.4M
$11.5K ฿383.0K
-67.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.93 Rp 637.3K
$63.0 ฿2,098
-43.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.41 Rp 486.2K
$29.52 ฿983
-7.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.6 Rp 1.1M
$98.0 ฿3,263
-38.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.8 Rp 1.1M
$88.5 ฿2,946
-30.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$452 Rp 8.0M
$738 ฿24.6K
-38.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 Rp 4.8M
$482 ฿16.1K
-43.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 Rp 24.8M
$2,107 ฿70.1K
-33.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 11.9M
$1,226 ฿40.8K
-45.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,100 Rp 19.5M
$3,617 ฿120.4K
-69.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$915 Rp 16.2M
$2,603 ฿86.7K
-64.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$494 ฿16.4K
-
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, Lombok: September 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $452 in Kuta, Lombok versus $738 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 $18.00 in Kuta, Lombok versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $274 – making Kuta, Lombok 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, Lombok vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kuta, Lombok or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 72% more than Kuta, Lombok, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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, Lombok and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,077 per month in Kuta, Lombok and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kuta, Lombok or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuta, Lombok, 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, Lombok and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Kuta, Lombok and $32.00 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, Lombok compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $718 in Kuta, Lombok and $1,232 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, Lombok or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kuta, Lombok, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Kuta, Lombok 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, Lombok or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kuta, Lombok costs $718 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kuta, Lombok 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, Lombok or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Kuta, Lombok. 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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