ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $2,488 in Badalona, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $3,674 in Badalona, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $4,860 in Badalona, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 51% cheaper than Badalona, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Badalona is 86% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Badalona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$17.34âŽ14.85
-73.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$58.4âŽ50.0
-19.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$11.70âŽ10.01
-24.44%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.67âŽ2.29
12.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.66âŽ2.28
-72.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.97âŽ1.69
-81.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$3.42âŽ2.93
-28.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$4.55âŽ3.89
-20.66%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Badalona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.26âŽ1.08
79.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.01âŽ1.72
-8.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.60âŽ1.37
40.00%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$2.99âŽ2.56
-22.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$14.48âŽ12.39
35.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$9.45âŽ8.09
-61.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$17.31âŽ14.82
-24.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.74âŽ2.35
23.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.96âŽ2.53
-44.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.11âŽ1.81
14.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.83âŽ2.42
-28.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.40âŽ1.20
11.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.47âŽ1.26
2.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.45âŽ1.24
-29.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.74âŽ0.64
-33.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$6.35âŽ5.44
-29.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.45âŽ6.38
153.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.57âŽ1.34
13.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.12âŽ1.81
29.72%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Badalona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$2.88âŽ2.47
-51.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$45.99âŽ39.37
-75.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$4.04âŽ3.45
-22.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$2.10âŽ1.80
-52.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$22.36âŽ19.14
-36.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.80âŽ1.54
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$37.5KâŽ32.1K
-27.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$30.5KâŽ26.1K
8.02%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Badalona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$148âŽ126
-15.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$20.45âŽ17.51
-33.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$37.73âŽ32.30
-50.91%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Badalona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$50.7âŽ43.41
21.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$34.36âŽ29.41
-50.99%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$9.45âŽ8.09
-2.75%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Badalona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$323âŽ277
116.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$6,816âŽ5,835
128.76%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Badalona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$95.8âŽ82.0
-39.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$37.77âŽ32.33
-6.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$105âŽ90.1
7.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$120âŽ103
-28.02%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Badalona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$1,703âŽ1,457
-63.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$1,431âŽ1,225
-68.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$2,324âŽ1,990
-11.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$2,550âŽ2,183
-41.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$4,450âŽ3,810
-40.48%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Badalona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$2,199âŽ1,882
-76.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.5
52.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Badalona: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $1,703 in Badalona. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 320% higher in Badalona, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $58.0 in Badalona. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $297 â making Phuket 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 Badalona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Badalona compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $2,488 in Badalona â roughly 102% apart. Badalona costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Badalona?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $3,733 in Badalona. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Badalona?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Badalona?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $2,488 in Badalona. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Badalona?
Public transport costs about 301% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Badalona at $2,488. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Badalona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Badalona?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $2,488 in Badalona. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Badalona safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Badalona?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Badalona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.