Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bata Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bata

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,680 in Bata, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $2,393 in Bata, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $3,106 in Bata, rent included.

Phuket is about 25% cheaper than Bata, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Bata is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$17.06 FCFA 9,620

-72.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$57.4 FCFA 32.4K

-20.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$2.73 FCFA 1,537

7.33%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.99 FCFA 560

-30.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.91 FCFA 510

-59.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$3.52 FCFA 1,984

-31.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$4.28 FCFA 2,413

-13.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$2.23 FCFA 1,255

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$3.43 FCFA 1,936

-46.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$2.53 FCFA 1,424

-14.23%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.08 FCFA 1,172

6.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$10.74 FCFA 6,055

83.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$6.78 FCFA 3,825

-46.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$9.45 FCFA 5,330

43.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$7.35 FCFA 4,143

-55.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.77 FCFA 1,000

-9.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$6.87 FCFA 3,876

-64.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$3.91 FCFA 2,207

-46.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$3.16 FCFA 1,780

-51.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$3.04 FCFA 1,713

-51.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.92 FCFA 519

7.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$2.48 FCFA 1,400

-79.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$5.30 FCFA 2,992

-16.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$6.13 FCFA 3,455

216.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$3.59 FCFA 2,027

-50.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.84 FCFA 475

259.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.76 FCFA 428

30.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.15 FCFA 649

18.26%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,975

$355 FCFA 200.1K

-65.71%

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

$13.57 ฿443

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$202 FCFA 113.9K

-90.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$122 FCFA 68.8K

-50.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$73.5 FCFA 41.4K

-19.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$78.1 FCFA 44.1K

-55.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$166 FCFA 93.7K

-31.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$159 FCFA 89.5K

-47.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$395 FCFA 223.0K

55.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$220 FCFA 123.8K

99.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$572 FCFA 322.4K

266.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$351 FCFA 197.8K

330.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$810 FCFA 456.6K

-37.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bata: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $395 in Bata. 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 59% higher in Bata, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $57.0 in Bata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $343 – 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 Bata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bata costs about 33% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $2,520 in Bata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $1,680 in Bata. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Bata, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Bata at $1,680. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bata it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,265 versus $1,680 in Bata. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bata makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.