Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bakau Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bakau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $323 in Bakau, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $731 in Bakau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,139 in Bakau, rent included.

Phuket costs about 281% more than Bakau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Phuket and Bakau are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Bakau 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$5.65 GMD 416

-21.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$76.6 GMD 5,637

-57.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$7.89 GMD 580

13.18%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$3.95 GMD 291

-26.58%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$2.36 GMD 174

-62.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$1.15 GMD 84.3

-58.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$3.67 GMD 270

-35.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$3.74 GMD 275

-0.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$2.50 GMD 184

-25.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$5.43 GMD 399

-61.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$16.35 GMD 1,203

-79.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$13.27 GMD 977

43.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$1.99 GMD 146

-10.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$2.67 GMD 197

4.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

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

$102 ฿3,420

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

$11.33 ฿378

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

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

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$68.7 GMD 5,055

1684.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

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: September 15, 2026

Last update for Bakau: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $77.0 in Bakau. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $170 in Bakau – so Bakau wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 281% more than Bakau, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 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 $1,232 in Phuket and $323 in Bakau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 61% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bakau, where all-in costs run around $323, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Bakau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakau costs $323 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bakau. 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.