😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $569 in Bandar Lampung.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $864 in Bandar Lampung.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,159 in Bandar Lampung.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 122% more expensive than Bandar Lampung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Bandar Lampung58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$1.68Rp 30.1K
179.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,483
$12.43Rp 222.8K
265.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿276
$3.25Rp 58.3K
159.38%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.7
$0.96Rp 17.2K
205.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.42
$0.36Rp 6,490
91.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.00
$0.24Rp 4,288
54.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.7
$2.03Rp 36.4K
18.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$3.26Rp 58.4K
14.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.0
$1.21Rp 21.7K
84.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.9
$0.95Rp 17.1K
92.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.9
$0.80Rp 14.3K
171.25%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.4
$1.41Rp 25.3K
56.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$6.36Rp 114.1K
210.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$3.04Rp 54.4K
19.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$6.25Rp 112.0K
116.48%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.97Rp 35.3K
66.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.7
$1.05Rp 18.8K
53.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.7
$1.35Rp 24.2K
78.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$1.41Rp 25.2K
47.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.97
$1.17Rp 21.0K
30.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.41
$1.75Rp 31.4K
-15.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.32
$0.60Rp 10.8K
65.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.68
$0.42Rp 7,525
21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$1.89Rp 33.8K
133.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿634
$20.91Rp 374.7K
-7.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.55Rp 27.8K
14.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.7
$3.20Rp 57.5K
-15.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Bandar Lampung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.83
$0.59Rp 10.6K
132.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$9.54Rp 171.0K
19.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.7
$0.53Rp 9,506
469.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.51
$0.35Rp 6,222
182.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$3.15Rp 56.4K
347.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.55
$0.67Rp 12.1K
102.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.9K
$24.6KRp 441.5M
14.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$24.9KRp 445.6M
32.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,978
$43.55Rp 780.7K
179.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$6.53Rp 117.0K
107.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿599
$26.96Rp 483.2K
-32.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,969
$23.32Rp 418.1K
158.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$9.23Rp 165.5K
85.70%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$2.75Rp 49.3K
216.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.7K
$30.38Rp 544.5K
2182.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.8K
$9,575Rp 171.6M
63.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,946
$23.05Rp 413.2K
158.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,137
$20.56Rp 368.5K
69.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,746
$21.58Rp 386.8K
431.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,723
$40.54Rp 726.6K
105.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bandar Lampung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$258Rp 4.6M
137.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$159Rp 2.8M
175.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.5K
$587Rp 10.5M
256.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$329Rp 5.9M
358.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.6K
$1,155Rp 20.7M
224.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.5K
$727Rp 13.0M
260.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$180Rp 3.2M
183.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.59
-44.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Bandar Lampung: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $258 in Bandar Lampung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 183% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $12.00 in Bandar Lampung for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $182 per month, with Bandar Lampung cheaper across the board.
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 Lampung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Bandar Lampung?
Bandar Lampung wins on cost – living expenses run 122% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandar Lampung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Bandar Lampung?
Phuket pays 183% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Bandar Lampung?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $258 in Bandar Lampung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Bandar Lampung?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandar Lampung – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Bandar Lampung?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $569 in Bandar Lampung – a 122% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Bandar Lampung?
At $569 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bandar Lampung but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Bandar Lampung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Bandar Lampung?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandar Lampung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $569 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bandar Lampung hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Bandar Lampung?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Bandar Lampung are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bandar Lampung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 122% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.