😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $989 in Baie du Tombeau.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,635 in Baie du Tombeau.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $2,281 in Baie du Tombeau.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 26% more expensive than in Baie du Tombeau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Baie du Tombeau26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$6.43MUR 302
-29.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$44.38MUR 2,085
4.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$6.43MUR 302
37.48%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$2.55MUR 120
20.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$0.97MUR 45.74
-24.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$0.60MUR 28.37
-33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$2.16MUR 101
12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$2.77MUR 130
36.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.44MUR 67.5
56.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$0.69MUR 32.49
162.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.27MUR 59.7
77.17%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$2.34MUR 110
-3.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$9.67MUR 454
101.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$6.36MUR 299
-42.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$10.24MUR 481
27.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.05MUR 96.4
57.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.96MUR 92.2
-17.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$1.51MUR 70.9
57.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$2.66MUR 125
-23.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.02MUR 48.09
50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.01MUR 47.43
48.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$0.85MUR 40.04
15.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.53MUR 24.81
-1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$6.09MUR 286
-27.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$8.23MUR 386
122.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.73MUR 81.1
7.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$2.17MUR 102
23.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$0.99MUR 46.73
42.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$29.08MUR 1,366
-59.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$4.52MUR 212
-31.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$2.65MUR 124
-60.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$15.15MUR 712
-6.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.46MUR 68.7
-10.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$35.9KMUR 1.7M
-22.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$29.1KMUR 1.4M
13.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$49.99MUR 2,348
144.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$18.55MUR 871
-26.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$32.05MUR 1,505
-41.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$37.97MUR 1,783
59.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$6.66MUR 313
154.95%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$6.06MUR 285
49.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$157MUR 7,364
350.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$4,019MUR 188.8K
293.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$51.2MUR 2,406
14.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$43.15MUR 2,027
-18.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$81.6MUR 3,832
41.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$77.3MUR 3,629
8.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$516MUR 24.2K
21.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$349MUR 16.4K
27.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$932MUR 43.8K
118.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$711MUR 33.4K
109.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$5,335MUR 250.6K
-34.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$4,169MUR 195.8K
-38.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$634MUR 29.8K
-21.18%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Baie du Tombeau: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $516 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $44.00 in Baie du Tombeau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 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, salaries run 27% lower in Baie du Tombeau. 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: $626 in Phuket versus $516 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 and in Baie du Tombeau?
All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $989 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 149% 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 living in Phuket or in Baie du Tombeau?
At $989 in Baie du Tombeau versus $1,250 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.