Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Banjarmasin

For one person, living is cheaper in Banjarmasin: $576 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $8,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Banjarmasin, Indonesia
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Banjarmasin
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$576
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Banjarmasin

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 Banjarmasin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $576 in Banjarmasin, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Banjarmasin $576

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $878 in Banjarmasin, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Banjarmasin $878

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $1,180 in Banjarmasin, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Banjarmasin $1,180

Phuket costs about 122% more than Banjarmasin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Banjarmasin are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Banjarmasin 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$1.07 Rp 19.5K
317.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,092
$13.36 Rp 242.7K
142.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$3.28 Rp 59.5K
168.60%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.3
$1.22 Rp 22.1K
131.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.37
$0.83 Rp 15.1K
4.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.64
$0.31 Rp 5,570
58.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.2
$5.10 Rp 92.6K
-49.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$3.53 Rp 64.2K
4.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$1.29 Rp 23.4K
28.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.25
$0.95 Rp 17.2K
53.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.4
$0.81 Rp 14.8K
85.19%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.4
$1.52 Rp 27.7K
37.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿642
$7.35 Rp 133.5K
159.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
61.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$3.20 Rp 58.2K
240.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.7
$1.92 Rp 34.8K
52.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$1.16 Rp 21.1K
45.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.7
$0.91 Rp 16.5K
147.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$1.16 Rp 21.1K
79.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.9
$1.20 Rp 21.7K
25.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.47
$0.94 Rp 17.1K
46.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.91
$0.80 Rp 14.5K
33.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.49
$0.39 Rp 7,138
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$1.92 Rp 34.8K
118.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿633
$20.44 Rp 371.1K
-8.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.4
$1.60 Rp 29.0K
13.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.7
$3.16 Rp 57.4K
-10.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$0.23 Rp 4,250
530.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,909
$11.46 Rp 208.1K
394.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$0.50 Rp 8,991
504.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.29
$0.34 Rp 6,180
200.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿124
$3.04 Rp 55.3K
21.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.70
$0.81 Rp 14.7K
81.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿902.4K
$24.5K Rp 445.7M
9.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿899.5K
$32.8K Rp 595.2M
-18.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,247
$40.61 Rp 737.6K
137.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$2.73 Rp 49.6K
312.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$17.09 Rp 310.4K
-1.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,266
$18.17 Rp 330.0K
270.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿361
$7.90 Rp 143.5K
35.82%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$5.63 Rp 102.3K
33.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.0K
$91.6 Rp 1.7M
419.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.6K
$7,191 Rp 130.6M
56.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,102
$43.57 Rp 791.3K
43.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿957
$27.00 Rp 490.3K
5.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,178
$52.1 Rp 945.8K
81.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,892
$31.79 Rp 577.4K
169.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.1K
$204 Rp 3.7M
251.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.5K
$164 Rp 3.0M
199.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿64.9K
$501 Rp 9.1M
284.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.2K
$315 Rp 5.7M
354.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.7K
$998 Rp 18.1M
318.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.6K
$762 Rp 13.8M
299.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$195 Rp 3.5M
158.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9.46
-41.12%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Banjarmasin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Banjarmasin
$164 66.6% $327
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Banjarmasin
$168 36.9% $98
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Banjarmasin
$60 51.5% $64
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Banjarmasin
$70 43% $52
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Banjarmasin
$70 42.4% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Banjarmasin
$29 64.2% $53
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Banjarmasin
$15 79.3% $56

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $204 in Banjarmasin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Phuket are about 2.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $13 in Banjarmasin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $168 – making Banjarmasin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇮🇩 Banjarmasin
🕒 Local time
12:33 12:33 PM
13:33 1:33 PM
1 h ahead of Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
715,703
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,161 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,355 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.91 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Banjarmasin 2,190 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Banjarmasin

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 Banjarmasin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banjarmasin cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 122%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $864 in Banjarmasin. 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 Banjarmasin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $204 there versus $716 in Phuket.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Banjarmasin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $13 in Banjarmasin. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Banjarmasin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $576 in Banjarmasin. That makes Banjarmasin about 55% cheaper.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Banjarmasin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Banjarmasin, where all-in costs run around $576, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Banjarmasin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Banjarmasin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banjarmasin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banjarmasin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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