Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Babol Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Babol

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $415 in Babol, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $744 in Babol, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,073 in Babol, rent included.

Phuket costs about 205% more than Babol, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Babol are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Babol 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$3.37 $3.37

39.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$18.33 $18.33

147.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$5.08 $5.08

65.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.63 $0.63

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 $1.04

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.01 $1.01

190.10%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.42 $0.42

64.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.97 $0.97

-61.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$0.63 $0.63

253.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.23 $0.23

695.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.86 $1.86

16.67%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.05 $1.05

110.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$1.84 $1.84

972.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.28 $3.28

10.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$8.46 $8.46

59.93%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$0.87 $0.87

277.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.26 $1.26

27.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.80 $0.80

201.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.58 $0.58

258.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.54 $0.54

183.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.47 $0.47

214.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.34 $0.34

191.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.15 $0.15

240.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.58 $0.58

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 $0.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 $1.60

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$1.79 $1.79

146.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.22 $0.22

522.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$10.19 $10.19

11.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.51 $0.51

492.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.29 $0.29

241.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$2.95 $2.95

377.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.77 $0.77

76.62%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$79.3K $79.3K

-64.43%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$29.3K $29.3K

12.48%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$14.79 $14.79

722.85%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$2.05 $2.05

561.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$3.98 $3.98

360.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$16.07 $16.07

274.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$12.29 $12.29

39.46%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$1.47 $1.47

491.16%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$49.69 $49.69

1295.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$1,943 $1,943

707.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$21.92 $21.92

171.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$34.43 $34.43

0.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$120 $120

-4.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$68.9 $68.9

20.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$189 $189

223.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$95.7 $95.7

356.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$495 $495

322.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$282 $282

435.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$910 $910

312.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$595 $595

339.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$130 $130

289.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

23.75

-77.56%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Babol: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $189 in Babol. 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 290% 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $18.00 in Babol. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $91.0 – making Babol 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

Phuket vs Babol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $415 in Babol – roughly 205% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $622 in Babol. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Babol, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Babol. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $49.69 in Babol. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Babol, where all-in costs run around $415, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Babol it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $415 in Babol to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Babol. 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.