Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Balikesir

For one person, living is cheaper in Balikesir: $942 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
45

Cost of Living Index in Balikesir
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Balikesir Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,294

/mo nomad

Balikesir

🇹🇷 Turkey

$942

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Balikesir

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

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Phuket vs $942 in Balikesir, rent included.

Phuket $1,294
Balikesir $942

A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Phuket vs $1,467 in Balikesir, rent included.

Phuket $2,204
Balikesir $1,467

A family of three spends $3,115 per month in Phuket vs $1,991 in Balikesir, rent included.

Phuket $3,115
Balikesir $1,991

Phuket costs about 37% more than Balikesir, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Balikesir are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 4% lower, Balikesir 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.39 ฿147

$6.88 ₺345

-36.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.31 ฿1,078

$27.55 ₺1,379

17.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.70 ฿290

$7.93 ₺397

9.71%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ฿90.9

$3.50 ₺175

-22.29%

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

$0.93 ฿31.06

$1.32 ₺66.3

-29.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ฿16.67

$0.34 ₺17.07

47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.5

$2.94 ₺147

-13.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿121

$3.99 ₺200

-9.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ฿58.1

$0.93 ₺46.46

87.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ฿48.42

$0.95 ₺47.48

52.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.1

$2.13 ₺107

-29.58%

Eggs

$2.17 ฿72.5

$1.88 ₺93.9

15.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.09 ฿637

$7.80 ₺390

144.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ฿113

$3.45 ₺173

-1.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿364

$18.60 ₺931

-41.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 ฿98.2

$1.85 ₺92.7

58.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.5

$1.64 ₺82.3

3.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ฿73.2

$0.99 ₺49.35

121.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 ฿70.9

$0.98 ₺49.11

116.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.68

$0.45 ₺22.48

224.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ฿45.66

$0.30 ₺15.22

356.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 ฿35.91

$0.72 ₺36.27

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.21

$0.75 ₺37.37

-26.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.43 ฿148

$2.23 ₺112

98.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.25 ฿609

$11.32 ₺567

61.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿59.2

$2.01 ₺100

-11.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 ฿96.2

$3.03 ₺152

-4.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿48.32

$0.71 ₺35.54

104.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 ฿1,832

$39.40 ₺1,971

39.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.51 ฿50.5

$1.12 ₺56.1

34.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.78 ฿25.90

$1.13 ₺56.5

-30.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 ฿128

$4.00 ₺200

-4.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.65

$1.31 ₺65.6

13.74%

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

$26.9K ฿897.3K

$39.8K ₺2.0M

-32.40%

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

$26.3K ฿879.4K

$40.4K ₺2.0M

-34.73%

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

$97.8 ฿3,265

$44.52 ₺2,228

119.70%

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

$11.29 ฿377

$12.10 ₺605

-6.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.19 ฿574

$14.95 ₺748

14.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.3 ฿2,281

$59.2 ₺2,961

15.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.92 ฿365

$29.92 ₺1,497

-63.50%

Cinema Ticket

$7.43 ฿248

$4.04 ₺202

83.91%

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

$530 ฿17.7K

$589 ₺29.5K

-9.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K ฿626.9K

$12.0K ₺599.3K

56.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 ฿2,059

$23.59 ₺1,180

161.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.25 ฿943

$16.28 ₺815

73.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,204

$70.8 ₺3,544

35.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 ฿2,898

$40.30 ₺2,017

115.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$721 ฿24.1K

$401 ₺20.1K

79.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$509 ฿17.0K

$325 ₺16.2K

56.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 ฿65.1K

$827 ₺41.4K

135.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,397 ฿46.6K

$574 ₺28.7K

143.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,192 ฿139.9K

$1,006 ₺50.4K

316.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,298 ฿110.1K

$806 ₺40.3K

309.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$492 ฿16.4K

$1,297 ₺64.9K

-62.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

39.8

-86.01%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Balikesir: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$509 39.3%

Balikesir

$325 34.4% 36.2% $184

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$267 20.6%

Balikesir

$212 22.5% 20.6% $55

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$126 9.8%

Balikesir

$72 7.6% 43.3% $55

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$123 9.5%

Balikesir

$68 7.2% 44.6% $55

Eating Out

Phuket

$120 9.2%

Balikesir

$150 15.9% 25.6% $31

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$83 6.4%

Balikesir

$67 7.1% 19.2% $16

Getting Around

Phuket

$66 5.1%

Balikesir

$49 5.2% 25.8% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $721 in Phuket versus $401 in Balikesir. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Balikesir are about 2.6 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $28 in Balikesir. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $212 – making Balikesir the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇹🇷 Balikesir

🕒 Local time

05:26 5:26 AM

01:26 1:26 AM

4 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

1,196,170

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Turkish Lira TRY ₺

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 3 USD

100 THB = 2.67 EUR

100 TRY = 2 USD

100 TRY = 1.78 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

TRY, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 33.38 THB (100 THB = 3 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Turkish Lira exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 50.04 TRY (100 TRY = 2 USD). 1 EUR = 56.18 TRY (100 TRY = 1.78 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Phuket Balikesir 7,780 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Balikesir

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 Balikesir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 37% more than Balikesir, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Phuket and $1,413 in Balikesir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Balikesir, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $401 there versus $721 in Phuket.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,294 in Phuket and $942 in Balikesir. That makes Balikesir about 27% cheaper.

Public transport costs about 28% less in Balikesir. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,294 in Phuket and $942 in Balikesir. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $942 in Balikesir to $1,294 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

For expats, Balikesir is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 27% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.