🙂A single person spends $618 per month in Palangkaraya vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $982 per month in Palangkaraya vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,347 per month in Palangkaraya vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Palangkaraya is about 50% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Palangkaraya and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Palangkaraya55% lower, Phuket10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.39Rp 24.7K
$4.41฿147
-68.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.63Rp 241.3K
$32.26฿1,077
-57.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.63Rp 64.3K
$8.93฿298
-59.35%
Cappuccino
$1.51Rp 26.8K
$2.90฿96.6
-47.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,021
$0.88฿29.38
-48.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20Rp 3,533
$0.48฿16.06
-58.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.38Rp 42.2K
$2.35฿78.5
1.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97Rp 70.2K
$3.72฿124
6.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 20.8K
$1.87฿62.3
-37.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09Rp 19.3K
$1.47฿48.94
-25.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89Rp 15.8K
$1.55฿51.8
-42.58%
Eggs
$1.45Rp 25.6K
$2.10฿70.1
-30.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.39Rp 130.9K
$19.59฿654
-62.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.19Rp 38.8K
$3.42฿114
-35.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.76Rp 119.8K
$11.38฿380
-40.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25Rp 39.9K
$2.98฿99.6
-24.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71Rp 30.3K
$1.68฿56.2
1.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77Rp 31.3K
$2.21฿73.7
-19.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.7K
$2.16฿72.1
-56.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22Rp 21.7K
$1.52฿50.9
-19.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02Rp 35.7K
$1.34฿44.67
50.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72Rp 12.8K
$1.13฿37.67
-36.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,587
$0.55฿18.24
-21.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.74Rp 48.5K
$4.26฿142
-35.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.07Rp 320.0K
$19.09฿637
-5.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88Rp 33.2K
$1.78฿59.4
5.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41Rp 60.4K
$2.78฿92.9
22.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28Rp 4,918
$2.23฿74.4
-87.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.74฿759
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,503
$3.03฿101
-84.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.32Rp 5,734
$1.02฿34.15
-68.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.52Rp 44.5K
$3.89฿130
-35.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.66Rp 11.8K
$1.49฿49.77
-55.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6KRp 417.1M
$26.6K฿887.3K
-11.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KRp 489.7M
$27.0K฿902.2K
2.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.0Rp 1.2M
$102฿3,420
-35.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.50Rp 79.7K
$11.33฿378
-60.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.18Rp 339.7K
$17.40฿581
10.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$5.56Rp 98.5K
$52.1฿1,738
-89.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.56Rp 133.9K
$11.07฿370
-31.71%
Cinema Ticket
$2.52Rp 44.6K
$7.69฿257
-67.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$105Rp 1.9M
$561฿18.7K
-81.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,638Rp 152.9M
$11.5K฿384.1K
-24.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.06Rp 780.2K
$63.0฿2,104
-30.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.24Rp 553.2K
$29.52฿986
5.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.6Rp 1.4M
$98.0฿3,272
-17.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0Rp 1.4M
$88.5฿2,954
-11.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$245Rp 4.3M
$738฿24.6K
-66.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$134Rp 2.4M
$482฿16.1K
-72.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588Rp 10.4M
$2,107฿70.3K
-72.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$407Rp 7.2M
$1,226฿40.9K
-66.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,299Rp 23.0M
$3,617฿120.7K
-64.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$681Rp 12.1M
$2,603฿86.9K
-73.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
5.57
69.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Palangkaraya: September 15, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $245 in Palangkaraya 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 $14.00 in Palangkaraya versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $274 – making Palangkaraya 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
Palangkaraya vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Palangkaraya or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 99% more than Palangkaraya, 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 Palangkaraya and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $926 per month in Palangkaraya 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, Palangkaraya or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Palangkaraya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Palangkaraya compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $618 in Palangkaraya and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Palangkaraya and in Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $105 per month in Palangkaraya and $561 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Palangkaraya or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Palangkaraya, where all-in costs run around $618, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Palangkaraya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Palangkaraya or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Palangkaraya costs $618 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 Palangkaraya 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 Palangkaraya or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Palangkaraya. 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.
Palangkaraya vs other spots: cost of living compared