Cost of Living Comparison Between Palangkaraya and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Palangkaraya and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $656 per month in Palangkaraya vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,008 per month in Palangkaraya vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,360 per month in Palangkaraya vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Palangkaraya is about 47% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Palangkaraya and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Palangkaraya 51% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52 Rp 26.2K
$4.63 ฿151
-67.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.34 Rp 213.1K
$46.84 ฿1,523
-73.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.03 Rp 69.6K
$8.84 ฿287
-54.41%
Cappuccino
$1.71 Rp 29.5K
$3.00 ฿97.4
-43.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 9,652
$0.74 ฿24.11
-24.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 Rp 5,173
$0.37 ฿11.88
-18.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.83 Rp 48.9K
$2.44 ฿79.3
15.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 Rp 61.5K
$3.61 ฿117
-1.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 Rp 21.8K
$2.26 ฿73.5
-44.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 Rp 23.3K
$1.84 ฿59.8
-26.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 Rp 15.1K
$2.24 ฿73.0
-60.71%
Eggs
$1.56 Rp 27.0K
$2.32 ฿75.3
-32.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.19 Rp 141.4K
$19.67 ฿639
-58.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.46 Rp 42.4K
$3.65 ฿119
-32.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.82 Rp 135.1K
$13.10 ฿426
-40.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 Rp 41.5K
$3.39 ฿110
-29.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 33.1K
$1.64 ฿53.4
17.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 Rp 31.4K
$2.41 ฿78.5
-24.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 Rp 18.9K
$2.03 ฿66.0
-46.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
$1.56 ฿50.6
-14.10%
Onion (1kg)
$3.11 Rp 53.7K
$1.50 ฿48.66
107.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 Rp 10.2K
$1.02 ฿33.30
-42.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 Rp 8,225
$0.49 ฿15.91
-2.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87 Rp 32.2K
$4.45 ฿145
-57.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.64 Rp 408.2K
$18.88 ฿614
25.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 Rp 35.1K
$1.78 ฿57.7
14.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 Rp 52.9K
$2.75 ฿89.5
11.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 Rp 5,617
$1.40 ฿45.54
-76.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.68 Rp 167.1K
$11.48 ฿373
-15.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 Rp 9,171
$3.12 ฿101
-83.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 5,983
$1.00 ฿32.48
-65.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 Rp 49.0K
$14.09 ฿458
-79.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 Rp 12.4K
$1.35 ฿43.93
-46.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K Rp 428.1M
$27.2K ฿883.7K
-8.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K Rp 470.3M
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-17.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 Rp 1.2M
$125 ฿4,063
-43.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.35 Rp 75.2K
$13.57 ฿441
-67.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.64 Rp 321.9K
$18.52 ฿602
0.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$6.04 Rp 104.3K
$61.5 ฿1,999
-90.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.18 Rp 106.7K
$16.84 ฿547
-63.30%
Cinema Ticket
$3.09 Rp 53.4K
$9.19 ฿299
-66.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.2 Rp 1.6M
$698 ฿22.7K
-86.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,596 Rp 131.1M
$15.6K ฿506.9K
-51.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.41 Rp 715.0K
$57.8 ฿1,878
-28.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.25 Rp 522.4K
$35.24 ฿1,146
-14.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.8 Rp 1.2M
$113 ฿3,677
-40.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.7 Rp 1.3M
$86.4 ฿2,808
-15.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$261 Rp 4.5M
$616 ฿20.0K
-57.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$160 Rp 2.8M
$446 ฿14.5K
-64.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$593 Rp 10.2M
$2,048 ฿66.6K
-71.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$336 Rp 5.8M
$1,492 ฿48.5K
-77.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,140 Rp 19.7M
$3,779 ฿122.8K
-69.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$770 Rp 13.3M
$2,649 ฿86.1K
-70.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palangkaraya
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 2.9M
$524 ฿17.0K
-68.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
5.33
71.67%

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

Last update for Palangkaraya: April 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Palangkaraya versus $616 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 215% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Palangkaraya versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $292 – 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 88% 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 vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $985 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 do childcare costs compare in Palangkaraya and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $94.2 per month in Palangkaraya and $698 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Palangkaraya or Phuket?
Groceries cost about 36% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Palangkaraya or Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Palangkaraya, where all-in costs run around $656, 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 $656 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 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.

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