Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ballasalla Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ballasalla

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $888 in Ballasalla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,259 in Ballasalla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,631 in Ballasalla.

Living in Phuket is roughly 43% more expensive than Ballasalla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Ballasalla 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$16.13 IMP 12.02

-70.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$11.77 IMP 8.77

-28.38%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$8.10 IMP 6.03

-63.83%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$2.62 IMP 1.95

-73.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$2.82 IMP 2.10

-86.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$5.49 IMP 4.09

-56.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$6.24 IMP 4.65

-40.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$4.88 IMP 3.64

-71.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$68.8 IMP 51.3

-83.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.85 IMP 1.38

-26.49%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,975

$272 IMP 203

-55.28%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$40.54 IMP 30.21

-66.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$54.5 IMP 40.63

-66.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$53.6 IMP 39.92

12.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$27.37 IMP 20.39

-37.38%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$26.70 IMP 19.89

-67.45%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$1,289 IMP 960

-52.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$2,547 IMP 1,897

-17.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$2,176 IMP 1,621

-30.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ballasalla: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $1,289 in Ballasalla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 Ballasalla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ballasalla is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $1,331 in Ballasalla to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $1,289 in Ballasalla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Ballasalla runs roughly 504% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $888 in Ballasalla – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $888 in Ballasalla versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ballasalla but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ballasalla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ballasalla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Ballasalla are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ballasalla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.