Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ballsh Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ballsh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,202 in Ballsh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,838 in Ballsh, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $2,474 in Ballsh, rent included.

Phuket costs about 5% more than Ballsh, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Ballsh are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Ballsh 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$11.72 ALL 959

-59.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$59.1 ALL 4,832

-23.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$6.81 ALL 557

23.79%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$2.03 ALL 166

44.33%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$1.45 ALL 119

-52.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.90 ALL 73.9

-58.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.97 ALL 243

-18.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$4.19 ALL 343

-11.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$2.12 ALL 174

5.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.14 ALL 93.0

60.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$2.16 ALL 177

0.46%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$3.89 ALL 318

-43.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$13.34 ALL 1,091

47.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$7.70 ALL 630

-52.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$15.67 ALL 1,282

-13.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.77 ALL 145

85.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$2.78 ALL 228

-42.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.04 ALL 167

18.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.98 ALL 162

5.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.33 ALL 109

15.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.32 ALL 108

12.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.45 ALL 119

-31.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.80 ALL 65.6

-36.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$4.37 ALL 357

0.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$10.96 ALL 897

76.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.62 ALL 133

9.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$2.07 ALL 170

30.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.48 ALL 39.46

185.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$19.01 ALL 1,555

-40.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$3.55 ALL 291

-14.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$3.23 ALL 264

-69.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$17.99 ALL 1,472

-21.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$2.15 ALL 176

-36.74%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$40.8K ALL 3.3M

-30.85%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$35.3K ALL 2.9M

-6.87%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$107 ALL 8,763

13.61%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$17.78 ALL 1,455

-23.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$18.41 ALL 1,506

-0.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$55.6 ALL 4,545

8.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$25.45 ALL 2,082

-32.65%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$9.21 ALL 754

-5.65%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$159 ALL 13.0K

335.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$5,513 ALL 451.1K

184.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$67.1 ALL 5,486

-11.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$50.2 ALL 4,104

-30.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$109 ALL 8,922

5.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$129 ALL 10.6K

-35.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$444 ALL 36.4K

37.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$347 ALL 28.4K

26.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$615 ALL 50.3K

240.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$433 ALL 35.4K

248.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$1,749 ALL 143.1K

114.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$1,196 ALL 97.8K

118.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

5.52

-3.44%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ballsh: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $444 in Ballsh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $59.0 in Ballsh. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Phuket vs $282 in Ballsh – so Ballsh 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 Ballsh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,803 in Ballsh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ballsh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 4% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $59.0 in Ballsh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ballsh, where all-in costs run around $1,202, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Ballsh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ballsh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Ballsh. 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.