Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Baniyas Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Baniyas

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $366 in Baniyas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $607 in Baniyas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $847 in Baniyas.

Living in Phuket is roughly 245% more expensive than Baniyas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Baniyas 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$1.99 SYP 220

136.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$27.30 SYP 3,017

66.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$5.46 SYP 603

54.40%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$0.48 SYP 52.8

510.42%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$1.02 SYP 113

-32.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.31 SYP 34.72

19.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.52 SYP 168

58.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.54 SYP 281

46.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$0.83 SYP 91.4

168.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.62 SYP 68.8

195.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$0.97 SYP 107

123.71%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.23 SYP 136

79.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$3.17 SYP 350

522.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$7.70 SYP 851

-52.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$11.17 SYP 1,235

21.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$0.49 SYP 53.7

569.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.01 SYP 112

59.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.29 SYP 31.57

731.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.49 SYP 53.9

324.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.31 SYP 34.71

393.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.42 SYP 46.04

252.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.40 SYP 44.61

147.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.59 SYP 64.7

-13.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$3.07 SYP 339

43.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$4.90 SYP 541

295.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$0.98 SYP 108

81.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.75 SYP 193

54.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.19 SYP 20.73

621.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$8.07 SYP 891

41.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$1.02 SYP 113

196.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$1.27 SYP 141

-22.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$6.62 SYP 732

112.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.54 SYP 171

-11.69%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$18.4K SYP 2.0M

53.57%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$20.9K SYP 2.3M

57.43%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$20.34 SYP 2,247

498.33%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$3.95 SYP 436

243.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$54.6 SYP 6,029

-66.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$2.98 SYP 329

191.61%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$42.83 SYP 4,733

1519.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$1,832 SYP 202.5K

756.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$7.87 SYP 869

656.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$26.01 SYP 2,874

33.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$45.28 SYP 5,004

153.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$55.6 SYP 6,148

49.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

13.75

-61.24%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Baniyas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Baniyas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $146 per month, with Baniyas 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 Baniyas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baniyas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 245% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $550 in Baniyas to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Baniyas – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $366 in Baniyas – a 245% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $366 in Baniyas versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Baniyas but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Baniyas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Baniyas is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Baniyas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Baniyas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 245% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.