Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Behbahan Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Behbahan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $517 in Behbahan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $788 in Behbahan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,059 in Behbahan.

Living in Phuket is roughly 145% more expensive than Behbahan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Behbahan 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$6.16 $6.16

-23.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$14.19 $14.19

219.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$3.60 $3.60

134.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 $0.67

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 $1.99

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$0.98 $0.98

198.98%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.42 $0.42

64.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$1.21 $1.21

-69.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$0.64 $0.64

248.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.48 $0.48

281.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.54 $1.54

40.91%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.13 $1.13

95.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$2.18 $2.18

805.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.18 $2.18

66.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$10.05 $10.05

34.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$0.93 $0.93

252.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.76 $1.76

-8.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.93 $0.93

159.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$0.51 $0.51

307.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.48 $0.48

218.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.46 $0.46

221.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.74 $0.74

33.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.26 $0.26

96.15%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.02 $1.02

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 $0.64

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 $1.44

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$2.37 $2.37

86.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.18 $0.18

661.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$10.12 $10.12

12.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.29 $0.29

941.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.27 $0.27

266.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$1.67 $1.67

744.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.73 $0.73

86.30%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$74.9K $74.9K

-62.33%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$80.9K $80.9K

-59.31%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$36.74 $36.74

231.25%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$2.04 $2.04

565.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$5.60 $5.60

226.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$15.94 $15.94

277.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$12.62 $12.62

35.82%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$1.99 $1.99

336.68%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$150 $150

361.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$2,000 $2,000

684.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$24.14 $24.14

146.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$20.40 $20.40

70.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$73.3 $73.3

56.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$41.18 $41.18

102.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$283 $283

116.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$201 $201

117.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$633 $633

230.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$314 $314

380.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$1,123 $1,123

233.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$592 $592

341.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

22.24

-76.03%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Behbahan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $283 in Behbahan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $14.00 in Behbahan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $99.0 per month, with Behbahan 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 Behbahan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Behbahan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 145% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $776 in Behbahan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $283 in Behbahan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $517 in Behbahan – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Behbahan runs roughly 13% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $517 in Behbahan versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Behbahan but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Behbahan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Behbahan 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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Behbahan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Behbahan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 145% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.