😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,077 in Baie du Tombeau.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,744 in Baie du Tombeau.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $2,411 in Baie du Tombeau.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 17% more expensive than in Baie du Tombeau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Baie du Tombeau22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿154
$5.88MUR 275
-20.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,065
$37.83MUR 1,770
-14.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿287
$7.02MUR 329
23.65%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.8
$2.58MUR 121
12.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.89
$1.15MUR 53.8
-26.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.16
$0.63MUR 29.33
-22.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.0
$2.58MUR 121
-3.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
$3.80MUR 178
-1.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.3
$1.48MUR 69.1
27.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.54
$0.74MUR 34.60
90.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.6
$1.16MUR 54.2
39.66%
Eggs
$2.24฿74.1
$2.39MUR 112
-6.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿656
$5.20MUR 243
281.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
$6.18MUR 289
-43.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿376
$11.29MUR 528
0.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.8
$2.09MUR 97.8
38.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.0
$2.34MUR 110
-26.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.1
$1.46MUR 68.4
55.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.4
$2.95MUR 138
-27.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.72
$1.00MUR 46.70
47.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.92
$0.97MUR 45.31
46.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.25
$0.74MUR 34.75
48.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.76
$0.88MUR 41.27
-31.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$6.37MUR 298
-32.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿615
$8.34MUR 390
123.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.5
$1.70MUR 79.8
5.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.0
$2.28MUR 107
30.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.2
$0.65MUR 30.43
246.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿776
$27.88MUR 1,305
-15.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$4.20MUR 197
-26.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.56
$3.12MUR 146
-65.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿128
$21.61MUR 1,011
-82.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.16
$1.38MUR 64.7
3.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿918.0K
$32.8KMUR 1.5M
-15.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿891.5K
$31.5KMUR 1.5M
-14.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,462
$45.77MUR 2,142
128.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿376
$10.52MUR 492
8.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿580
$29.27MUR 1,370
-40.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,795
$35.57MUR 1,665
52.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿378
$6.46MUR 302
77.09%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿257
$6.26MUR 293
24.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$125MUR 5,850
361.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿382.7K
$7,760MUR 363.2K
49.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,103
$67.7MUR 3,167
-5.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿961
$68.0MUR 3,182
-57.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,179
$115MUR 5,392
-16.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,974
$78.7MUR 3,683
14.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.2K
$573MUR 26.8K
27.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
$394MUR 18.4K
27.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.2K
$1,100MUR 51.5K
93.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.4K
$848MUR 39.7K
47.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.8K
$5,238MUR 245.1K
-32.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.6K
$4,206MUR 196.8K
-37.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Baie du Tombeau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.8K
$626MUR 29.3K
-18.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
6.34
-12.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Baie du Tombeau: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $573 in Baie du Tombeau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Baie du Tombeau pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $38.00 in Baie du Tombeau. Groceries flip the comparison at $275 vs $210, with Baie du Tombeau cheaper for home cooking.
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, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% 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 23% 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: $733 in Phuket versus $573 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 $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $1,077 in Baie du Tombeau – a 17% 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 19% 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 $1,077 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 17% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.