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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $287 in Bakau, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $481 in Bakau, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $676 in Bakau, rent included.

Phuket costs about 341% more than Bakau, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Phuket and Bakau are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Bakau 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$4.38 GMD 326

2.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$4.74 GMD 353

-37.34%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$1.14 GMD 85.0

-65.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$1.81 GMD 135

39.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$2.92 GMD 217

28.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$2.59 GMD 193

-16.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$5.55 GMD 413

-59.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$17.12 GMD 1,274

-78.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$13.57 GMD 1,009

36.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$2.08 GMD 155

-10.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$2.82 GMD 210

-6.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

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

$123 ฿4,105

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

$13.77 ฿459

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

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

$688 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$72.0 GMD 5,355

1978.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bakau: July 28, 2026

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 341% 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 $1,896 per month in Phuket and $430 in Bakau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,264 in Phuket and $287 in Bakau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 64% 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 $287, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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 $287 versus $1,264 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.