Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and BakalyCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bakaly
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $971 in Bakaly, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,480 in Bakaly, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,990 in Bakaly, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 30% more than Bakaly, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Bakaly are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Bakaly28% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$8.75₽634
-47.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$38.48₽2,788
21.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$4.32₽313
96.06%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$2.27₽164
33.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$1.29₽93.3
-46.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.39₽28.48
-5.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$2.90₽210
-14.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.50₽181
46.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$1.00₽72.8
118.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$0.66₽47.56
187.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$1.62₽118
35.80%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$1.81₽131
22.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$14.39₽1,042
38.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$3.83₽278
-4.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$8.72₽632
51.95%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$1.77₽128
82.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$1.98₽144
-14.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$1.39₽101
71.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$3.00₽217
-30.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$1.07₽77.5
48.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.99₽71.5
49.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$1.50₽109
-31.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.64₽46.66
-18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$3.09₽224
37.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$8.00₽580
134.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$0.81₽58.9
117.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$1.95₽142
41.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.49₽35.55
177.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$3.24₽235
-3.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.33₽23.56
215.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$7.82₽567
76.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$0.80₽57.7
67.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$32.2K₽2.3M
-14.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$31.2K₽2.3M
8.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$98.8₽7,156
25.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$4.74₽343
185.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$7.18₽520
160.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$36.22₽2,625
70.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$5.14₽372
77.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$328₽23.7K
114.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$6,947₽503.4K
128.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$69.1₽5,006
-13.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$44.51₽3,225
-21.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$113₽8,159
2.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$108₽7,815
-22.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$453₽32.8K
36.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$307₽22.3K
40.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$776₽56.2K
165.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$514₽37.3K
193.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$2,694₽195.2K
35.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
$1,733₽125.5K
51.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bakaly
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
16.33
-67.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Bakaly: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $453 in Bakaly. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $38.00 in Bakaly. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $203 – 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 30% 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 $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,457 in Bakaly. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 café 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 $971, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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 $971 versus $1,261 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 – 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.