Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and BariCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bari
Monthly Cost of Living
ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,770 in Bari, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,657 in Bari, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $3,545 in Bari, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 30% cheaper than Bari, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Bari is 32% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Bari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$17.04âŽ14.59
-72.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$71.8âŽ61.4
-34.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$12.87âŽ11.02
-31.31%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.95âŽ1.67
53.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.15âŽ1.84
-65.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.34âŽ1.15
-72.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$4.60âŽ3.94
-46.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$4.71âŽ4.03
-23.35%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bari
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.84âŽ1.57
22.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.14âŽ1.83
-14.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$2.89âŽ2.47
-22.49%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.85âŽ3.30
-39.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$14.46âŽ12.38
36.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$12.20âŽ10.45
-70.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$17.98âŽ15.39
-27.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.32âŽ1.98
46.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.05âŽ1.75
-20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.07âŽ1.77
16.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$3.26âŽ2.79
-37.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.72âŽ1.48
-9.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.71âŽ1.46
-12.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.38âŽ1.18
-26.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.52âŽ0.45
-5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$6.99âŽ5.98
-36.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.47âŽ6.39
152.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.47âŽ1.26
21.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.07âŽ1.77
32.85%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Bari
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.19âŽ1.02
17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$38.06âŽ32.58
-69.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$17.18âŽ14.71
-81.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$2.10âŽ1.80
-52.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$35.33âŽ30.24
-60.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$2.01âŽ1.72
-32.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$35.5KâŽ30.4K
-23.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$27.0KâŽ23.1K
21.94%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$183âŽ157
-31.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$13.55âŽ11.60
0.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$30.17âŽ25.82
-38.61%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bari
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$49.02âŽ41.97
25.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$19.64âŽ16.82
-14.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$8.78âŽ7.52
4.67%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$648âŽ555
7.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$18.8KâŽ16.1K
-17.20%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bari
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$102âŽ87.0
-43.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$48.57âŽ41.57
-27.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$105âŽ89.8
7.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$150âŽ128
-42.36%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$845âŽ724
-27.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$673âŽ576
-33.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,391âŽ1,190
47.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,010âŽ865
47.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$3,846âŽ3,293
-1.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,191âŽ1,875
20.91%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$2,013âŽ1,723
-73.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.74
12.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bari: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $845 in Bari. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 284% higher in Bari, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $72.0 in Bari. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $320 â making Phuket 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 Bari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Bari?
Bari costs about 44% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Bari?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,654 in Bari. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Bari?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Bari?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $648 in Bari. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Bari?
Groceries cost about 10% more in Bari, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Bari?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Bari at $1,770. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bari it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Bari?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $1,770 in Bari. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Bari?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or Bari?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bari makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.