Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bečej Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bečej

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $929 in Bečej.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,382 in Bečej.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,834 in Bečej.

Living in Phuket is roughly 33% more expensive than Bečej, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Bečej 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Bečej
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$6.87 RSD 689
-32.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$35.07 RSD 3,518
33.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$9.81 RSD 984
-9.89%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$1.17 RSD 117
156.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$1.45 RSD 145
-48.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.83 RSD 82.8
-55.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$1.51 RSD 152
61.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$1.92 RSD 193
88.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bečej
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.01 RSD 101
123.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$0.88 RSD 87.8
109.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.46 RSD 146
53.42%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$2.18 RSD 218
6.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$9.14 RSD 917
115.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$7.10 RSD 712
-48.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$7.47 RSD 749
75.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$1.02 RSD 102
232.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$1.95 RSD 196
-15.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$1.57 RSD 157
53.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$1.93 RSD 193
5.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$0.66 RSD 66.5
136.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$0.36 RSD 36.26
316.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$0.66 RSD 66.6
54.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.56 RSD 56.2
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$4.06 RSD 407
9.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$4.05 RSD 406
366.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$0.71 RSD 71.5
150.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$0.95 RSD 95.7
189.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Bečej
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$0.94 RSD 94.0
48.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$28.25 RSD 2,835
-59.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$2.01 RSD 202
55.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$0.74 RSD 74.6
35.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$9.79 RSD 982
43.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.80 RSD 181
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$31.0K RSD 3.1M
-12.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$26.5K RSD 2.7M
24.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bečej
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$64.3 RSD 6,446
94.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$9.80 RSD 983
38.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$23.80 RSD 2,388
-22.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bečej
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$30.98 RSD 3,109
98.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$16.65 RSD 1,670
1.14%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$7.82 RSD 785
17.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bečej
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$446 RSD 44.8K
56.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$5,096 RSD 511.3K
205.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bečej
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$102 RSD 10.2K
-43.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$42.70 RSD 4,284
-17.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$65.0 RSD 6,521
74.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$118 RSD 11.8K
-26.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bečej
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$376 RSD 37.7K
63.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$299 RSD 30.0K
49.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$568 RSD 57.0K
260.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$412 RSD 41.3K
262.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$2,222 RSD 222.9K
70.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$1,387 RSD 139.2K
90.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bečej
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
$540 RSD 54.2K
-2.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.59
-4.65%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bečej: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $376 in Bečej. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bečej pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Bečej for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $177 per month, with Bečej cheaper across the board.

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 Bečej: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bečej cheaper than Phuket?
Bečej is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Bečej?
On paper, Bečej earns 3% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Bečej?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $376 in Bečej. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Bečej?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $929 in Bečej – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Bečej runs roughly 146% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Bečej?
At $929 in Bečej versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bečej but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Bečej the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Bečej more family-friendly?
For families, Bečej is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Bečej?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Bečej are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bečej gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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