Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bakau

For one person, living is cheaper in Bakau: $323 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $11,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

Bakau

🇬🇲 Gambia

$323

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Bakau

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Bakau actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $323 in Bakau, rent included.

Phuket $1,278
Bakau $323

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $725 in Bakau, rent included.

Phuket $2,216
Bakau $725

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $1,127 in Bakau, rent included.

Phuket $3,154
Bakau $1,127

Phuket costs about 295% more than Bakau, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Bakau are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Bakau 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$5.36 GMD 397

-16.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,093

$75.9 GMD 5,620

-57.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$7.81 GMD 578

12.80%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.4

$3.97 GMD 294

-28.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 ฿29.40

$2.25 GMD 166

-61.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.65

$1.13 GMD 83.4

-56.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.3

$3.76 GMD 279

-31.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$3.67 GMD 272

0.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿55.9

$2.39 GMD 177

-30.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.29

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$5.14 GMD 381

-59.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿643

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

$16.56 GMD 1,227

-80.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.0

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.51

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.95

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.50

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$13.45 GMD 997

39.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.4

$2.01 GMD 149

-9.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.8

$2.78 GMD 206

2.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿48.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,911

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿124

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.75

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.8K ฿903.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.7K ฿900.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$96.4 ฿3,250

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.26 ฿380

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿568

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,268

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$476 ฿16.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿379.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,103

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿958

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,180

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,894

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$68.4 GMD 5,068

1991.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿140.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Bakau: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

Bakau

–

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

Bakau

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

Bakau

–

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Bakau

–

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Bakau

–

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

Bakau

–

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

Bakau

–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $76 in Bakau. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Phuket vs $170 in Bakau – so Bakau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇬🇲 Bakau

🕒 Local time

22:11 10:11 PM

15:11 3:11 PM

7 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

43,098

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Gambian Dalasi GMD D

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 GMD = 1.35 USD

100 GMD = 1.21 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

GMD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.64 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Gambian Dalasi exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 74.1 GMD (100 GMD = 1.35 USD). 1 EUR = 82.69 GMD (100 GMD = 1.21 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Phuket Bakau 12,460 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Bakau

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bakau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 295% more than Bakau, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $485 in Bakau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $323 in Bakau. That makes Bakau about 75% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 57% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A $800 monthly budget goes further in Bakau, where all-in costs run around $323, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Bakau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $323 in Bakau to $1,278 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.