Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Alexandra, Barbados

For one person, living is cheaper in Alexandra: $278 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Alexandra, Barbados
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Alexandra
🇧🇧 Barbados
$278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Alexandra

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $278 in Alexandra.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Alexandra $278

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $455 in Alexandra.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Alexandra $455

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $633 in Alexandra.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Alexandra $633

Living in Phuket is roughly 360% more expensive than in Alexandra, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Alexandra 80% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alexandra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$30.36 BBD 60.7
-85.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.42
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.66
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alexandra
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$3.47 BBD 6.95
-52.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.32
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
-
-
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.97
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alexandra
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.00
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.34
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.78
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.8K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alexandra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,252
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alexandra
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,269
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alexandra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.1K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alexandra
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,105
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,182
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,896
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alexandra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alexandra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Alexandra: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Alexandra
–
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Alexandra
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Alexandra
–
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Alexandra
–
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Alexandra
–
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Alexandra
–
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Alexandra
–
Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇧🇧 Alexandra
🕒 Local time
15:00 3:00 PM
04:00 4:00 AM
11 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
1,382
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

BBD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Barbados Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 2 BBD (1 BBD = 0.5 USD). 1 EUR = 2.23 BBD (1 BBD = 0.448 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Alexandra 16,630 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Alexandra

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
Phuket vs Alexandra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alexandra cheaper than Phuket?
Alexandra is about 78% cheaper overall, especially in groceries. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,917 in Phuket and $416 in Alexandra to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Alexandra?
Supermarket bills run roughly 666% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Alexandra?
All in, you’ll spend $1,278 per month in Phuket versus $278 in Alexandra – Alexandra is about 78% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Alexandra?
At $278 in Alexandra versus $1,278 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Alexandra but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Alexandra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city suits remote workers better?
Both work as nomad bases, but Alexandra delivers better value at $278 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Alexandra hard to pass up.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Alexandra?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Alexandra are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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