Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and BakalyCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bakaly
Monthly Cost of Living
ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $966 in Bakaly, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,463 in Bakaly, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,960 in Bakaly, rent included.
ðPhuket costs about 28% more than Bakaly, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Phuket and Bakaly are more affordable than the global median â Phuket8% lower, Bakaly28% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$8.33â―626
-44.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$38.32â―2,879
22.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$4.56â―343
93.86%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.27â―171
32.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$1.27â―95.6
-41.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.42â―31.68
-11.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$2.88â―216
-15.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.47â―186
46.15%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.02â―76.3
121.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.66â―49.31
178.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.64â―123
36.59%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$1.82â―137
27.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$13.97â―1,050
40.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$3.92â―294
-6.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$8.98â―675
45.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.70â―128
99.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.91â―143
-14.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.31â―98.4
83.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$3.00â―225
-32.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.08â―81.1
44.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.92â―68.8
63.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.53â―115
-33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.62â―46.45
-20.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$3.04â―228
46.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$8.12â―610
132.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$0.86â―64.4
106.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.92â―144
43.23%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.50â―37.47
180.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$3.25â―244
-4.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.35â―26.61
185.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$7.82â―587
80.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$0.78â―58.8
73.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$31.4Kâ―2.4M
-13.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$32.0Kâ―2.4M
2.87%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$99.0â―7,432
26.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$4.72â―354
187.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$6.87â―516
169.58%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$35.45â―2,662
73.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$4.94â―371
86.03%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$320â―24.1K
118.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$6,946â―521.7K
124.48%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$70.8â―5,319
-18.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$45.27â―3,400
-22.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$114â―8,537
-0.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$106â―7,941
-18.30%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$447â―33.5K
37.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$300â―22.6K
48.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$771â―57.9K
165.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$502â―37.7K
196.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,901â―142.8K
98.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$1,543â―115.9K
71.63%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
16.33
-67.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bakaly: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $447 in Bakaly. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $38.00 in Bakaly. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $202 â making Bakaly 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 Bakaly: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Bakaly?
Phuket costs about 28% more than Bakaly, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Bakaly?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,449 in Bakaly. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Bakaly?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bakaly, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Bakaly?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $38.00 in Bakaly. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Bakaly?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Bakaly?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bakaly, where all-in costs run around $966, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Bakaly it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Bakaly?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakaly costs $966 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Bakaly?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or Bakaly?
If budget matters most, go with Bakaly. 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.