Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bandar Abbas Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bandar Abbas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $578 in Bandar Abbas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $895 in Bandar Abbas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,212 in Bandar Abbas, rent included.

Phuket costs about 119% more than Bandar Abbas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Bandar Abbas are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Bandar Abbas 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$3.95 $3.95
18.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$17.05 $17.05
166.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$4.63 $4.63
82.07%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.64 $0.64
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.06 $1.06
-
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$1.15 $1.15
154.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$0.46 $0.46
50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.99 $0.99
-62.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$0.62 $0.62
259.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$0.52 $0.52
251.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.85 $1.85
17.30%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$1.15 $1.15
92.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$3.37 $3.37
485.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$3.29 $3.29
10.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$9.86 $9.86
37.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$0.85 $0.85
285.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.35 $1.35
19.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$0.88 $0.88
173.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$0.53 $0.53
292.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$0.52 $0.52
194.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$0.48 $0.48
208.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.55 $0.55
80.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.23 $0.23
121.74%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.57 $0.57
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.50 $0.50
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.37 $1.37
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$2.16 $2.16
104.17%
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
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Bandar Abbas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.22 $0.22
522.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$9.89 $9.89
15.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$0.33 $0.33
815.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$0.29 $0.29
241.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$1.98 $1.98
612.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$0.73 $0.73
86.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$73.2K $73.2K
-61.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$55.7K $55.7K
-40.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$16.00 $16.00
660.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$2.05 $2.05
561.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$5.79 $5.79
216.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$15.70 $15.70
283.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$12.40 $12.40
38.23%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$1.52 $1.52
471.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$114 $114
509.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$1,976 $1,976
693.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$22.78 $22.78
161.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$24.82 $24.82
40.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$112 $112
2.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$70.7 $70.7
17.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bandar Abbas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$343 $343
78.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$255 $255
71.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$813 $813
157.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$405 $405
272.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$1,061 $1,061
253.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$603 $603
333.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bandar Abbas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$181 $181
181.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
22.24
-76.03%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bandar Abbas: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $343 in Bandar Abbas. 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 181% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $17.00 in Bandar Abbas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $106 – making Bandar Abbas the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bandar Abbas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bandar Abbas cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 119%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $867 in Bandar Abbas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandar Abbas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Bandar Abbas?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $578 in Bandar Abbas. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 15% less in Bandar Abbas. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Bandar Abbas?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bandar Abbas, where all-in costs run around $578, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Bandar Abbas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Bandar Abbas more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bandar Abbas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Bandar Abbas?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bandar Abbas. 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.

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