Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bakuriani

For one person, living is cheaper in Bakuriani: $695 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Bakuriani
🇬🇪 Georgia
$695
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Bakuriani

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 Bakuriani actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,208 per month in Phuket vs $695 in Bakuriani, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Bakuriani $695

A couple spends around $2,027 per month in Phuket vs $1,134 in Bakuriani, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Bakuriani $1,134

A family of three spends $2,845 per month in Phuket vs $1,573 in Bakuriani, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Bakuriani $1,573

Phuket costs about 74% more than Bakuriani, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Phuket and Bakuriani are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 11% lower, Bakuriani 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Bakuriani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$11.55 ₾29.90
-61.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$32.97 ₾85.4
-2.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$11.15 ₾28.86
-21.43%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$3.67 ₾9.51
-22.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$0.99 ₾2.57
-9.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$0.55 ₾1.43
-14.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$1.84 ₾4.77
38.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$2.30 ₾5.97
66.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bakuriani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$2.08 ₾5.37
-16.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$0.73 ₾1.90
101.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$1.60 ₾4.15
-5.63%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$2.71 ₾7.02
-19.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$9.55 ₾24.73
106.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$6.04 ₾15.65
-44.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$9.94 ₾25.74
12.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$1.53 ₾3.96
86.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$1.97 ₾5.11
-13.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$1.29 ₾3.35
69.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$2.10 ₾5.43
-2.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$0.94 ₾2.42
54.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$0.63 ₾1.62
119.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$1.47 ₾3.80
-27.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$0.73 ₾1.88
-30.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$3.11 ₾8.05
36.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$5.91 ₾15.29
214.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$1.51 ₾3.92
17.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$2.10 ₾5.43
35.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Bakuriani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$1.18 ₾3.05
155.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$0.63 ₾1.63
68.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$12.19 ₾31.55
-68.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$1.49 ₾3.85
-2.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$15.6K ₾40.5K
68.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$20.7K ₾53.5K
30.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bakuriani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$79.4 ₾206
21.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$9.41 ₾24.37
17.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$15.75 ₾40.78
8.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bakuriani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$6.79 ₾17.57
15.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bakuriani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$294 ₾760
89.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$3,162 ₾8,186
266.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bakuriani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$93.9 ₾243
-31.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$38.48 ₾99.6
-25.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$133 ₾344
-28.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$116 ₾299
-23.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bakuriani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bakuriani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
12.55
-55.62%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Bakuriani: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Bakuriani
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Bakuriani
$211 21.3% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Bakuriani
$105 16% $20
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Bakuriani
$171 37.9% $47
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Bakuriani
$190 56.7% $69
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Bakuriani
$14 * 80% $54
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Bakuriani
$4.3 * 89% $35

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $33.00 in Bakuriani. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Phuket vs $211 in Bakuriani – so Bakuriani wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇬🇪 Bakuriani
🕒 Local time
03:04 3:04 AM
00:04 12:04 AM
3 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
1,800
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

GEL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Georgian Lari exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 2.59 GEL (1 GEL = 0.386 USD). 1 EUR = 2.91 GEL (1 GEL = 0.344 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Bakuriani 6,550 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Bakuriani

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 Bakuriani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Bakuriani?
Phuket costs about 74% more than Bakuriani, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 and in Bakuriani?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,813 per month in Phuket and $1,043 in Bakuriani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Bakuriani?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,208 in Phuket and $695 in Bakuriani. That's a gap of about 74%.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Bakuriani?
Kindergarten costs $556 per month in Phuket and $294 in Bakuriani. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Bakuriani?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bakuriani, where all-in costs run around $695, than in Phuket at $1,208. In Bakuriani 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 Bakuriani?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bakuriani costs $695 versus $1,208 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 Bakuriani?
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 to Bakuriani?
If budget matters most, go with Bakuriani. 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.

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