Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bathurst, Canada

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,757 in Bathurst, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Bathurst, Canada
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Bathurst
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,757
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Bathurst

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

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $1,757 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Bathurst $1,757

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $2,044 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Bathurst $2,044

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $2,332 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Bathurst $2,332

Phuket is about 27% cheaper than Bathurst, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Bathurst is 29% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Bathurst
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$15.96 CA$22.33
-71.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,092
$43.54 CA$60.9
-25.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$11.73 CA$16.40
-24.89%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.3
$3.48 CA$4.86
-18.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.37
$2.01 CA$2.82
-56.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.64
$1.59 CA$2.22
-69.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.2
$4.96 CA$6.94
-48.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$5.08 CA$7.11
-27.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bathurst
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$1.72 CA$2.40
-3.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.25
$2.54 CA$3.55
-42.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.4
$2.52 CA$3.53
-40.48%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.4
$3.56 CA$4.98
-41.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿642
$11.30 CA$15.81
68.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$9.14 CA$12.78
-63.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$6.35 CA$8.88
71.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.7
$4.66 CA$6.52
-37.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$1.59 CA$2.23
6.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.7
$4.78 CA$6.69
-52.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$1.91 CA$2.68
8.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.9
$2.51 CA$3.51
-39.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.47
$1.55 CA$2.17
-10.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.91
$2.20 CA$3.08
-51.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.49
$1.58 CA$2.21
-67.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$9.79 CA$13.70
-57.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿633
$11.93 CA$16.69
57.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.4
$3.19 CA$4.46
-42.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.7
$4.45 CA$6.22
-36.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Bathurst
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.93
$3.47 CA$4.85
-58.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,909
$65.3 CA$91.3
-13.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$2.77 CA$3.88
9.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.29
$1.33 CA$1.87
-23.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿124
$21.83 CA$30.53
-83.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.70
$1.24 CA$1.74
18.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿902.4K
$28.8K CA$40.3K
-7.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿899.5K
$21.5K CA$30.1K
24.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bathurst
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,247
$104 CA$146
-7.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$70.1 CA$98.0
-83.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$60.9 CA$85.1
-72.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bathurst
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,266
$44.27 CA$61.9
51.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿361
$32.39 CA$45.31
-66.87%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$9.14 CA$12.79
-17.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bathurst
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.0K
$582 CA$814
-18.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.6K
$1,741 CA$2,436
546.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bathurst
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,102
$50.5 CA$70.7
23.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿957
$39.90 CA$55.8
-28.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,178
$77.3 CA$108
22.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,892
$81.4 CA$114
5.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bathurst
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.1K
$749 CA$1,048
-4.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.5K
$690 CA$966
-28.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿64.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bathurst
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$2,083 CA$2,913
-75.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.77
16.77%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Bathurst
$690 40.7% $200
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Bathurst
$314 18% $48
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Bathurst
$235 89% $111
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Bathurst
$112 8% $9.8
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Bathurst
$254 109% $132
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Bathurst
$63 23.9% $20
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Bathurst
$89 25.5% $18

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $749 in Bathurst. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Bathurst are about 4.1 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $44 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $314 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇦 Bathurst
🕒 Local time
07:12 7:12 AM
21:12 9:12 PM
10 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
12,157
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.715 USD). 1 EUR = 1.56 CAD (1 CAD = 0.642 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Bathurst 13,650 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Bathurst

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 Bathurst: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Bathurst?
Yes – Bathurst is pricier by about 37%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $2,636 in Bathurst. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Bathurst?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $716 in Phuket and $749 in Bathurst. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Bathurst?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $1,757 in Bathurst. That makes Phuket about 27% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 13% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Bathurst?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Bathurst at $1,757. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bathurst it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Bathurst more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – 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 Phuket. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bathurst makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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