Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and BacongCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bacong
Monthly Cost of Living
ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $673 in Bacong, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,103 in Bacong, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,532 in Bacong, rent included.
ðPhuket costs about 83% more than Bacong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Phuket and Bacong are more affordable than the global median â Phuket8% lower, Bacong50% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Bacong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$2.67âą165
73.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$21.33âą1,315
119.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$3.65âą225
142.19%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.04âą126
47.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.57âą35.28
29.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.30âą18.35
23.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$0.94âą58.2
159.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$1.73âą107
108.67%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bacong
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.84âą114
22.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.20âą74.3
53.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$0.95âą58.8
135.79%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$2.26âą139
2.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$5.75âą354
242.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$4.25âą262
-14.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$7.09âą437
84.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$3.77âą232
-10.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.19âą73.3
37.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$3.37âą208
-28.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.55âą95.8
30.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.56âą158
-39.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$3.14âą194
-52.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.68âą104
-39.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.90âą55.8
-45.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$3.15âą194
41.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$6.76âą417
179.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.34âą82.9
32.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.45âą89.5
89.66%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Bacong
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.26âą15.99
438.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$0.72âą44.57
333.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.23âą14.10
334.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$2.58âą159
446.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.03âą63.5
31.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$23.5Kâą1.4M
15.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$19.2Kâą1.2M
71.15%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bacong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$55.9âą3,450
123.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$30.59âą1,887
-55.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$30.34âą1,871
-38.96%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bacong
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$33.30âą2,054
84.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$4.55âą280
270.11%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$5.28âą326
74.05%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bacong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$34.84âą2,149
1904.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$4,279âą263.9K
264.37%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bacong
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$45.23âą2,790
27.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$23.05âą1,421
52.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$61.9âą3,818
82.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$26.94âą1,662
220.64%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bacong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$167âą10.3K
267.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$174âą10.7K
156.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$579âą35.7K
253.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$395âą24.3K
278.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,215âą136.6K
70.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bacong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8
-33.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bacong: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $167 in Bacong. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $21.00 in Bacong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $205 â making Bacong 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 Bacong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bacong cheaper than Phuket?
Yes â Phuket is pricier by about 83%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,010 in Bacong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Bacong?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $673 in Bacong. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $34.84 in Bacong. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Bacong?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bacong, where all-in costs run around $673, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Bacong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Bacong more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bacong â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Bacong?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bacong. 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.