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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $696 in Bamenda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $934 in Bamenda, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,171 in Bamenda, rent included.

Phuket costs about 77% more than Bamenda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Bamenda are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Bamenda 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$5.38 FCFA 3,077

-18.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$6.47 FCFA 3,694

38.02%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.15 FCFA 658

152.17%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$1.72 FCFA 983

-48.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.66 FCFA 378

-27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$1.61 FCFA 917

45.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$1.73 FCFA 988

115.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$2.97 FCFA 1,699

-37.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$0.84 FCFA 481

75.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$2.09 FCFA 1,193

-25.84%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$2.98 FCFA 1,706

-29.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$3.73 FCFA 2,131

-8.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$4.91 FCFA 2,804

131.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$2.58 FCFA 1,473

15.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$0.91 FCFA 521

84.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.20 FCFA 686

84.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$1.38 FCFA 786

56.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$3.09 FCFA 1,764

-50.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$1.55 FCFA 885

-13.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$0.83 FCFA 476

36.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.73 FCFA 419

-24.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$1.80 FCFA 1,029

136.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$10.08 FCFA 5,762

89.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$1.45 FCFA 826

22.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$1.79 FCFA 1,020

55.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

$1.34 FCFA 766

66.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

$9.33 FCFA 5,334

143.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$0.60 FCFA 341

405.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$0.61 FCFA 346

67.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$5.63 FCFA 3,220

-30.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$1.45 FCFA 827

2.76%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

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

$102 ฿3,420

$178 FCFA 101.6K

-42.35%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$30.39 FCFA 17.4K

-62.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$37.88 FCFA 21.6K

-54.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$17.96 FCFA 10.3K

189.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$8.96 FCFA 5,118

-14.17%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$179 FCFA 102.1K

213.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$26.27 FCFA 15.0K

139.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$43.46 FCFA 24.8K

-32.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$47.75 FCFA 27.3K

105.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$53.7 FCFA 30.7K

64.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$69.6 FCFA 39.7K

961.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$35.89 FCFA 20.5K

1244.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$97.5 FCFA 55.7K

406.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Bamenda: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $69.6 in Bamenda. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 406% 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: $1,232 in Phuket, $696 in Bamenda – roughly 77% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,044 in Bamenda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $696 in Bamenda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $179 in Bamenda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bamenda, where all-in costs run around $696, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $696 in Bamenda to $1,232 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.