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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $351 in Bamenda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $534 in Bamenda, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $716 in Bamenda, rent included.

Phuket costs about 260% more than Bamenda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Bamenda are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Bamenda 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$1.72 FCFA 976

160.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$6.20 FCFA 3,522

41.29%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$0.85 FCFA 483

249.41%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$0.55 FCFA 311

25.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.36 FCFA 206

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$1.32 FCFA 748

91.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$1.75 FCFA 993

114.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$2.67 FCFA 1,515

-19.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$0.60 FCFA 339

203.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$0.95 FCFA 538

129.47%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$3.19 FCFA 1,813

-29.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$4.39 FCFA 2,495

-17.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$5.44 FCFA 3,089

149.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$2.72 FCFA 1,545

19.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$0.85 FCFA 481

92.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$0.70 FCFA 395

232.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$0.90 FCFA 511

130.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$1.37 FCFA 777

13.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$1.09 FCFA 618

33.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$0.58 FCFA 330

68.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.72 FCFA 410

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$1.42 FCFA 807

206.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$10.18 FCFA 5,780

82.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.29 FCFA 731

44.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$1.37 FCFA 779

93.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$1.79 FCFA 1,015

-20.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$0.45 FCFA 258

604.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$0.31 FCFA 175

232.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$6.09 FCFA 3,457

128.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$1.28 FCFA 724

4.69%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

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

$123 ฿4,105

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

$13.77 ฿459

$17.76 FCFA 10.1K

-22.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$33.77 FCFA 19.2K

-45.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

$8.87 FCFA 5,036

584.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

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

$688 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$26.91 FCFA 15.3K

120.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$44.93 FCFA 25.5K

156.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$60.7 FCFA 34.5K

37.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$98.9 FCFA 56.2K

399.06%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bamenda: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 399% 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: $1,264 in Phuket, $351 in Bamenda – roughly 260% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $527 in Bamenda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,264 in Phuket and $351 in Bamenda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 81% 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 $351, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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 $351 in Bamenda to $1,264 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.