Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuta, Lombok and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Kuta, Lombok: $701 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Kuta, Lombok, Indonesia
Phuket, Thailand
Kuta, Lombok
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$701
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kuta, Lombok and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kuta, Lombok and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $701 per month in Kuta, Lombok vs $1,294 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Kuta, Lombok $701
  • Phuket $1,294

A couple spends around $1,156 per month in Kuta, Lombok vs $2,204 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Kuta, Lombok $1,156
  • Phuket $2,204

A family of three spends $1,610 per month in Kuta, Lombok vs $3,115 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Kuta, Lombok $1,610
  • Phuket $3,115

Kuta, Lombok is about 46% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Kuta, Lombok and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kuta, Lombok 48% lower, Phuket 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.61 Rp 29.1K
$4.39 ฿147
-63.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.13 Rp 309.1K
$32.31 ฿1,080
-46.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.85 Rp 51.5K
$8.70 ฿291
-67.24%
Cappuccino
$1.31 Rp 23.7K
$2.72 ฿91.1
-51.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
$0.93 ฿31.11
-11.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 Rp 6,247
$0.50 ฿16.70
-30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.31 Rp 23.7K
$2.53 ฿84.6
-48.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 Rp 39.6K
$3.63 ฿121
-39.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 Rp 18.6K
$1.74 ฿58.2
-40.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 Rp 27.6K
$1.45 ฿48.51
5.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 Rp 13.3K
$1.50 ฿50.2
-51.33%
Eggs
$1.40 Rp 25.2K
$2.17 ฿72.6
-35.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.46 Rp 188.9K
$19.09 ฿638
-45.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 Rp 48.2K
$3.40 ฿114
-21.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.56 Rp 136.4K
$10.90 ฿364
-30.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 42.4K
$2.94 ฿98.3
-20.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
$1.69 ฿56.6
-39.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$2.19 ฿73.4
-28.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 23.0K
$2.12 ฿71.0
-40.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.25 Rp 22.6K
$1.46 ฿48.77
-14.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 Rp 28.9K
$1.37 ฿45.74
16.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 Rp 12.3K
$1.08 ฿35.98
-37.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 Rp 6,390
$0.55 ฿18.24
-36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.44 Rp 26.0K
$4.43 ฿148
-67.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.51 Rp 261.8K
$18.25 ฿610
-20.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 Rp 27.4K
$1.77 ฿59.3
-14.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 Rp 35.8K
$2.88 ฿96.3
-31.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 Rp 2,860
$1.45 ฿48.40
-88.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.68 Rp 102.5K
$54.9 ฿1,835
-89.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 Rp 5,605
$1.51 ฿50.6
-79.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 Rp 5,016
$0.78 ฿25.94
-64.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.92 Rp 70.7K
$3.84 ฿128
2.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.54 Rp 9,797
$1.49 ฿49.74
-63.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.0K Rp 288.0M
$26.9K ฿898.9K
-40.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K Rp 372.6M
$26.3K ฿881.0K
-21.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.7 Rp 1.0M
$97.8 ฿3,271
-42.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.63 Rp 83.6K
$11.29 ฿378
-58.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.62 Rp 263.9K
$17.19 ฿575
-14.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.61 Rp 498.4K
$68.3 ฿2,285
-59.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.71 Rp 175.3K
$10.92 ฿365
-11.08%
Cinema Ticket
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$7.43 ฿248
-69.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$311 Rp 5.6M
$530 ฿17.7K
-41.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,879 Rp 142.2M
$18.8K ฿628.1K
-58.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.26 Rp 636.4K
$61.7 ฿2,062
-42.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.86 Rp 484.8K
$28.25 ฿945
-4.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.2 Rp 1.1M
$96.0 ฿3,210
-36.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.4 Rp 1.1M
$86.8 ฿2,903
-30.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$422 Rp 7.6M
$721 ฿24.1K
-41.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$263 Rp 4.7M
$509 ฿17.0K
-48.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,375 Rp 24.8M
$1,950 ฿65.2K
-29.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$651 Rp 11.8M
$1,397 ฿46.7K
-53.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$945 Rp 17.1M
$4,192 ฿140.2K
-77.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$864 Rp 15.6M
$3,298 ฿110.3K
-73.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuta, Lombok
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$492 ฿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: November 2, 2026

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kuta, Lombok
$263
Phuket
$509 93.7% $246
Groceries & Markets
Kuta, Lombok
$187
Phuket
$267 43% $80
Clothing & Footwear
Kuta, Lombok
$83
Phuket
$123 48.5% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuta, Lombok
$76
Phuket
$126 66.3% $50
Eating Out
Kuta, Lombok
$53
Phuket
$120 126% $67
Sport & Entertainment
Kuta, Lombok
$32
Phuket
$83 159% $51
Getting Around
Kuta, Lombok
$8
Phuket
$66 725% $58

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $422 in Kuta, Lombok versus $721 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 $17 in Kuta, Lombok versus $32 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $267 – making Kuta, Lombok the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Kuta, Lombok
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
17:08 5:08 PM
16:08 4:08 PM
1 h behind Kuta, Lombok
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,000
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,049 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.54 USD). 1 EUR = 20,271 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kuta, Lombok Phuket 2,720 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kuta, Lombok
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 85% more than Kuta, Lombok, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 $1,051 per month in Kuta, Lombok and $1,940 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $422 there versus $721 in Phuket.
How do dining costs compare in Kuta, Lombok and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17 in Kuta, Lombok and $32 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 $701 in Kuta, Lombok and $1,294 in Phuket. That makes Kuta, Lombok about 46% cheaper.
Can you live on $800/month in Kuta, Lombok or in Phuket?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Kuta, Lombok, where all-in costs run around $701, than in Phuket at $1,294. 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 families?
Families tend to lean toward Kuta, Lombok – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Kuta, Lombok compared to Phuket?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Kuta, Lombok is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 46% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Kuta, Lombok vs other spots: cost of living compared

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