Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Baie du Tombeau Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Baie du Tombeau

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,002 in Baie du Tombeau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,658 in Baie du Tombeau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,314 in Baie du Tombeau.

Living in Phuket is roughly 26% more expensive than Baie du Tombeau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Baie du Tombeau 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$6.69 MUR 316
-29.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$43.28 MUR 2,045
4.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$6.46 MUR 305
30.50%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$2.68 MUR 127
9.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$0.98 MUR 46.27
-29.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.56 MUR 26.66
-33.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.07 MUR 97.9
16.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$2.76 MUR 131
34.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.50 MUR 71.0
48.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$0.69 MUR 32.84
165.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.32 MUR 62.6
64.39%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$2.24 MUR 106
-1.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$9.81 MUR 463
101.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$6.01 MUR 284
-39.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$10.43 MUR 493
29.72%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$2.07 MUR 97.6
58.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.99 MUR 94.2
-19.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.43 MUR 67.6
68.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$2.64 MUR 125
-21.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.03 MUR 48.53
48.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$0.94 MUR 44.53
57.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.85 MUR 40.10
16.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.58 MUR 27.20
-12.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$6.10 MUR 288
-27.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$8.25 MUR 390
134.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.79 MUR 84.7
-0.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$2.16 MUR 102
25.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$1.05 MUR 49.51
30.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$29.22 MUR 1,381
-61.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$4.38 MUR 207
-31.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$2.71 MUR 128
-63.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$15.60 MUR 737
-9.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.41 MUR 66.6
-3.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$35.8K MUR 1.7M
-21.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$29.1K MUR 1.4M
13.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$48.83 MUR 2,307
149.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$18.71 MUR 884
-27.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$32.89 MUR 1,554
-44.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$38.41 MUR 1,815
56.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$6.68 MUR 316
156.59%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$6.20 MUR 293
40.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$154 MUR 7,256
351.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$3,987 MUR 188.4K
293.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$51.2 MUR 2,417
16.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$43.13 MUR 2,038
-19.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$82.2 MUR 3,884
39.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$78.1 MUR 3,689
6.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$520 MUR 24.6K
17.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$349 MUR 16.5K
25.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$967 MUR 45.7K
116.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$730 MUR 34.5K
106.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$5,310 MUR 250.9K
-29.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$4,255 MUR 201.1K
-38.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$645 MUR 30.5K
-21.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.25
-14.72%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Baie du Tombeau: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $520 in Baie du Tombeau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Baie du Tombeau pays 27% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $43.00 in Baie du Tombeau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $213 per month, with Baie du Tombeau cheaper across the board.

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 Baie du Tombeau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baie du Tombeau cheaper than Phuket?
Baie du Tombeau is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Baie du Tombeau?
On paper, Baie du Tombeau earns 27% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Baie du Tombeau?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $520 in Baie du Tombeau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Baie du Tombeau?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $1,002 in Baie du Tombeau – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Baie du Tombeau runs roughly 157% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Baie du Tombeau?
At $1,002 in Baie du Tombeau versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Baie du Tombeau but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Baie du Tombeau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Baie du Tombeau more family-friendly?
For families, Baie du Tombeau is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Baie du Tombeau?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Baie du Tombeau are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Baie du Tombeau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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