Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ba Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $92.1 in Ba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $205 in Ba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $318 in Ba.

Living in Phuket is roughly 1274% more expensive than in Ba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Ba 93% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

$2.06 FJD 4.51

126.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,065

$29.43 FJD 64.5

9.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

$6.13 FJD 13.43

41.60%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿95.8

$2.03 FJD 4.45

42.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.84 ฿27.89

$1.03 FJD 2.25

-18.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.16

$0.99 FJD 2.16

-50.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.0

$3.91 FJD 8.57

-36.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

$3.52 FJD 7.72

5.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ฿62.3

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿46.54

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.84 ฿656

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿115

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿57.0

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.1

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.72

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.92

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.76

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.56

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.16

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿918.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K ฿891.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$105 ฿3,462

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.39 ฿376

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 ฿580

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$576 ฿19.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿382.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,103

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿961

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 ฿3,179

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ฿2,974

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ฿24.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ฿70.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

$384 FJD 841

32.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

39.25%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ba: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Phuket pays 32% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $32.00 in Phuket vs $29.00 in Ba for two.

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 Ba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ba wins on cost – living expenses run 1274% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 32% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Dining out is cheaper in Ba – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $92.1 in Ba – a 1274% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $92.1 in Ba versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ba but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ba delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $92.1 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ba hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Ba are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1274% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.