Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Banjarmasin Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Banjarmasin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $595 in Banjarmasin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $941 in Banjarmasin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,288 in Banjarmasin, rent included.

Phuket costs about 107% more than Banjarmasin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Banjarmasin are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Banjarmasin 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$1.16 Rp 20.6K
280.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,077
$14.18 Rp 251.1K
127.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿298
$3.45 Rp 61.2K
158.84%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.6
$1.27 Rp 22.4K
128.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.38
$0.81 Rp 14.4K
8.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.06
$0.34 Rp 6,055
41.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.5
$5.23 Rp 92.6K
-55.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$3.37 Rp 59.6K
10.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.3
$1.33 Rp 23.6K
40.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.94
$0.95 Rp 16.8K
54.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$0.86 Rp 15.2K
80.23%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.1
$1.61 Rp 28.5K
30.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿654
$8.16 Rp 144.5K
140.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$2.21 Rp 39.1K
54.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿380
$3.34 Rp 59.2K
240.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.6
$2.00 Rp 35.4K
49.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$1.14 Rp 20.2K
47.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$0.97 Rp 17.1K
127.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.1
$1.25 Rp 22.1K
72.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.9
$1.27 Rp 22.5K
19.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.67
$0.98 Rp 17.4K
36.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.67
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
46.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.44 Rp 7,852
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$1.99 Rp 35.2K
114.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿637
$19.22 Rp 340.3K
-0.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.4
$2.07 Rp 36.6K
-14.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$2.72 Rp 48.2K
2.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.4
$0.70 Rp 12.3K
218.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿759
$16.72 Rp 296.1K
36.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$0.50 Rp 8,793
506.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.15
$0.32 Rp 5,753
218.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$2.94 Rp 52.0K
32.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.77
$0.84 Rp 14.8K
77.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿887.3K
$25.6K Rp 452.7M
3.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿902.2K
$33.5K Rp 593.6M
-19.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,420
$40.57 Rp 718.4K
152.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿378
$2.77 Rp 49.1K
309.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿581
$17.69 Rp 313.2K
-1.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,738
$20.43 Rp 361.7K
154.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿370
$7.42 Rp 131.4K
49.19%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿257
$5.52 Rp 97.8K
39.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$96.0 Rp 1.7M
483.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.1K
$7,529 Rp 133.3M
52.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,104
$43.38 Rp 768.1K
45.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿986
$30.84 Rp 546.2K
-4.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,272
$55.3 Rp 978.3K
77.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,954
$33.34 Rp 590.3K
165.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$217 Rp 3.8M
240.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$165 Rp 2.9M
192.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.3K
$563 Rp 10.0M
273.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.9K
$370 Rp 6.6M
230.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.7K
$1,228 Rp 21.7M
194.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.9K
$752 Rp 13.3M
246.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Banjarmasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$204 Rp 3.6M
142.03%
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: September 15, 2026

Last update for Banjarmasin: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $217 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 run about 142% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $14.00 in Banjarmasin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $174 – making Banjarmasin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 107%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $893 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Banjarmasin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $14.00 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 $1,232 in Phuket and $595 in Banjarmasin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Banjarmasin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjarmasin, where all-in costs run around $595, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 safer, Phuket or Banjarmasin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banjarmasin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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