Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Banja Luka

For one person, living is cheaper in Banja Luka: $1,198 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $960 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Phuket outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
58

Cost of Living Index in Banja Luka
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Banja Luka Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

Banja Luka

🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina

$1,198

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Banja Luka

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Banja Luka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $1,198 in Banja Luka, rent included.

Phuket $1,278
Banja Luka $1,198

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $1,826 in Banja Luka, rent included.

Phuket $2,216
Banja Luka $1,826

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $2,454 in Banja Luka, rent included.

Phuket $3,154
Banja Luka $2,454

Phuket costs about 7% more than Banja Luka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Phuket and Banja Luka are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Banja Luka 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$9.52 BAM 16.67

-53.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,094

$49.53 BAM 86.8

-34.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$10.69 BAM 18.72

-17.59%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.4

$1.84 BAM 3.23

53.80%

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

$0.87 ฿29.42

$2.55 BAM 4.47

-65.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.66

$1.69 BAM 2.96

-71.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.3

$2.36 BAM 4.13

8.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$3.37 BAM 5.90

9.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$1.37 BAM 2.41

21.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.32

$1.23 BAM 2.15

18.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.59 BAM 2.78

-5.66%

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$2.89 BAM 5.06

-27.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿643

$9.76 BAM 17.10

95.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

$8.92 BAM 15.63

-63.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

$14.07 BAM 24.65

-22.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.9

$1.84 BAM 3.23

59.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.0

$1.96 BAM 3.44

-13.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$2.21 BAM 3.88

1.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.1

$2.16 BAM 3.78

-3.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

$0.99 BAM 1.73

52.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.37 BAM 2.39

0.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.97

$1.13 BAM 1.98

-5.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.51

$0.89 BAM 1.57

-41.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

$3.92 BAM 6.86

7.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$7.99 BAM 14.00

135.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.5

$0.99 BAM 1.74

83.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.9

$1.41 BAM 2.47

101.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿49.00

$1.33 BAM 2.33

9.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,912

$45.28 BAM 79.3

25.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$1.69 BAM 2.96

78.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.34

$1.12 BAM 1.96

-8.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿125

$16.85 BAM 29.51

-78.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.78

$1.77 BAM 3.10

-16.95%

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

$26.8K ฿903.7K

$30.4K BAM 53.3K

-12.06%

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

$26.7K ฿900.8K

$21.1K BAM 37.0K

26.24%

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

$96.4 ฿3,252

$163 BAM 285

-40.71%

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

$11.26 ฿380

$16.51 BAM 28.93

-31.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿569

$36.88 BAM 64.6

-54.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,269

$36.35 BAM 63.7

84.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

$15.04 BAM 26.35

-28.66%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

$5.78 BAM 10.12

29.76%

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

$476 ฿16.1K

$283 BAM 496

67.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿380.1K

$3,604 BAM 6,314

212.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,105

$82.1 BAM 144

-24.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿959

$36.26 BAM 63.5

-21.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,182

$106 BAM 185

-10.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,896

$145 BAM 254

-40.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.2K

$435 BAM 763

64.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$299 BAM 524

64.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.0K

$658 BAM 1,153

192.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$471 BAM 826

203.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿140.9K

$2,826 BAM 4,951

47.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.8K

$1,912 BAM 3,349

59.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿17.0K

$887 BAM 1,555

-43.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.44

25.45%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Banja Luka: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

Banja Luka

$299 25% 39.1% $192

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

Banja Luka

$245 20.5% 7.8% $21

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

Banja Luka

$216 18% 73.4% $91

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Banja Luka

$166 13.9% 36.1% $44

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Banja Luka

$166 13.8% 36.2% $44

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

Banja Luka

$48 4% 41.7% $34

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

Banja Luka

$58 4.8% 18% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $435 in Banja Luka. 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 77% higher in Banja Luka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $50 in Banja Luka. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Phuket vs $245 in Banja Luka – so Banja Luka wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇧🇦 Banja Luka

🕒 Local time

14:13 2:13 PM

08:13 8:13 AM

6 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

138,963

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark BAM KM

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

1 BAM = 0.571 USD

1 BAM = 0.511 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BAM, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BAM (1 BAM = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.96 BAM (1 BAM = 0.511 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Phuket Banja Luka 8,700 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Banja Luka

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Banja Luka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 7%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in leisure.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $1,796 in Banja Luka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Banja Luka, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $435 there versus $716 in Phuket.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $50 in Banja Luka. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,278 in Phuket and $1,198 in Banja Luka, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Banja Luka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.