Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bamenda Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bamenda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $342 in Bamenda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $526 in Bamenda, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $711 in Bamenda, rent included.

Phuket costs about 269% more than Bamenda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Bamenda are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Bamenda 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$1.79 FCFA 1,013

154.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$6.04 FCFA 3,413

40.23%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$0.89 FCFA 504

240.45%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.50 FCFA 285

38.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.36 FCFA 205

2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$1.31 FCFA 742

90.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$1.72 FCFA 974

112.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$2.71 FCFA 1,532

-19.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$0.64 FCFA 359

196.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$0.99 FCFA 560

122.22%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$3.28 FCFA 1,852

-32.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.37 FCFA 2,467

-16.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$5.33 FCFA 3,008

148.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$2.62 FCFA 1,482

23.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$0.90 FCFA 506

88.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$0.73 FCFA 410

227.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$0.91 FCFA 517

128.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.38 FCFA 777

15.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.08 FCFA 608

37.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.55 FCFA 312

87.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.68 FCFA 387

-23.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$1.38 FCFA 782

207.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$8.95 FCFA 5,057

109.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.30 FCFA 734

35.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$1.38 FCFA 781

100.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$1.72 FCFA 974

-20.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$0.43 FCFA 241

630.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$0.33 FCFA 189

215.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$6.00 FCFA 3,390

129.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.31 FCFA 742

2.29%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

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

$124 ฿4,025

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

$13.52 ฿440

$17.56 FCFA 9,918

-23.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$34.13 FCFA 19.3K

-45.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$9.07 FCFA 5,120

581.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

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

$703 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$26.97 FCFA 15.2K

120.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$44.67 FCFA 25.2K

158.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$61.9 FCFA 35.0K

35.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$106 FCFA 59.9K

378.30%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Bamenda: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 378% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Bamenda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Phuket, $342 in Bamenda – roughly 269% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $513 in Bamenda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $342 in Bamenda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 85% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bamenda, where all-in costs run around $342, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Bamenda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $342 in Bamenda to $1,261 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Bamenda. 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.