Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Baidoa Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Baidoa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $161 in Baidoa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $291 in Baidoa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $422 in Baidoa, rent included.

Phuket costs about 662% more than Baidoa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Baidoa are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Baidoa 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

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

$0.68 ฿22.07

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

$1.97 SOS 1,121

11.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

$1.19 SOS 674

87.39%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

$3.65 SOS 2,072

-38.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

$9.26 SOS 5,259

-59.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

$6.95 SOS 3,947

93.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

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

$28.0K ฿911.1K

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,964

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

$13.93 ฿453

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

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

$691 ฿22.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

$9.81 SOS 5,573

489.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

$19.78 SOS 11.2K

473.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

$29.97 SOS 17.0K

176.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

$50.3 SOS 28.5K

1106.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

$30.34 SOS 17.2K

1376.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

$151 SOS 85.8K

1243.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

$91.4 SOS 51.9K

1534.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Baidoa: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $50.3 in Baidoa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Baidoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,223 in Phuket, $161 in Baidoa – roughly 662% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,835 per month in Phuket and $241 in Baidoa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,223 in Phuket and $161 in Baidoa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 175% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Baidoa, where all-in costs run around $161, than in Phuket at $1,223. In Baidoa 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 $161 in Baidoa to $1,223 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 Baidoa. 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.