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: $1,250 in Phuket versus $366 in Baniyas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $608 in Baniyas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $850 in Baniyas.

Living in Phuket is roughly 241% more expensive than in Baniyas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$2.03 SYP 247

124.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,554

$27.28 SYP 3,315

69.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿298

$5.61 SYP 682

57.58%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$0.48 SYP 57.8

537.50%

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

$0.73 ฿24.42

$1.01 SYP 123

-27.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.40

$0.31 SYP 37.97

29.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$1.48 SYP 180

64.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$2.43 SYP 296

55.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$0.83 SYP 100

172.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.62 SYP 75.9

191.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.02 SYP 124

120.59%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.6

$1.19 SYP 144

89.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$3.04 SYP 370

541.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$7.62 SYP 926

-52.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$11.38 SYP 1,383

14.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$0.48 SYP 58.0

572.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.01 SYP 123

60.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.2

$0.29 SYP 34.84

720.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.2

$0.48 SYP 58.6

322.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.29 SYP 35.12

427.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.41 SYP 50.0

265.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.93

$0.38 SYP 45.97

157.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.40

$0.61 SYP 74.2

-14.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$2.96 SYP 359

50.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$4.92 SYP 598

272.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.02 SYP 124

82.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.2

$1.75 SYP 213

53.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.19 SYP 23.11

642.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

$7.77 SYP 944

50.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$1.01 SYP 123

207.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.08

$1.23 SYP 149

-15.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿475

$6.56 SYP 797

115.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.13

$1.46 SYP 177

-10.27%

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

$27.8K ฿936.0K

$18.5K SYP 2.2M

50.70%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$21.0K SYP 2.6M

58.22%

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

$122 ฿4,120

$20.03 SYP 2,434

511.28%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$4.01 SYP 487

238.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$55.0 SYP 6,681

-65.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$3.08 SYP 374

194.48%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$43.57 SYP 5,294

1521.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.8K

$1,855 SYP 225.5K

751.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,970

$7.76 SYP 944

654.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,190

$25.57 SYP 3,107

38.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,885

$44.44 SYP 5,400

159.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,818

$55.7 SYP 6,765

50.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Baniyas: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Baniyas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 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 241% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,875 in Phuket and $549 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 $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $366 in Baniyas – a 241% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $366 in Baniyas versus $1,250 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 241% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.