😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $626 in Bel Ombre.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,044 in Bel Ombre.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,462 in Bel Ombre.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 97% more expensive than in Bel Ombre, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Bel Ombre54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Bel Ombre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$5.77MUR 274
-23.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,073
$37.89MUR 1,800
-14.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$7.31MUR 347
22.16%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.3
$2.60MUR 123
11.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.27
$1.14MUR 54.2
-22.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.00
$0.62MUR 29.61
-22.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.2
$2.68MUR 127
-12.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$4.84MUR 230
-23.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bel Ombre
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.0
$1.56MUR 74.3
19.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.75
$0.74MUR 35.23
98.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.11MUR 52.9
39.64%
Eggs
$2.10฿69.9
$2.61MUR 124
-19.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿651
$5.20MUR 247
276.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$6.55MUR 311
-47.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿378
$11.35MUR 539
0.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.2
$2.77MUR 132
7.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.0
$2.72MUR 129
-38.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$1.44MUR 68.2
53.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿71.9
$2.94MUR 140
-26.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.7
$0.95MUR 44.94
60.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.49
$0.94MUR 44.71
42.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.53
$0.69MUR 32.72
63.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.17
$0.92MUR 43.84
-40.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$6.53MUR 310
-34.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$8.31MUR 395
129.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$1.72MUR 81.7
3.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.5
$2.34MUR 111
18.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Bel Ombre
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.1
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿756
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$4.26MUR 202
-28.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.02
$3.25MUR 155
-68.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿129
$21.33MUR 1,013
-81.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.57
$1.38MUR 65.6
7.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿883.8K
$36.4KMUR 1.7M
-26.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿898.7K
$30.6KMUR 1.5M
-11.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bel Ombre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,407
$44.32MUR 2,105
131.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$10.40MUR 494
8.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿578
$28.97MUR 1,376
-39.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bel Ombre
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,732
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$6.30MUR 299
22.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bel Ombre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.6K
$126MUR 5,992
344.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿382.6K
$7,766MUR 368.9K
48.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bel Ombre
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,096
$77.4MUR 3,675
-18.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿982
$75.4MUR 3,581
-60.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,259
$121MUR 5,757
-19.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,943
$76.6MUR 3,639
15.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bel Ombre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bel Ombre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
6.67
-16.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Bel Ombre: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $38.00 in Bel Ombre. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $219, with Bel Ombre cheaper for home cooking.
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 Bel Ombre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Bel Ombre?
Bel Ombre wins on cost – living expenses run 97% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bel Ombre the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Bel Ombre?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $938 in Bel Ombre 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.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Bel Ombre?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $126 in Bel Ombre. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Bel Ombre?
Dining out is cheaper in Bel Ombre – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Bel Ombre?
At $626 in Bel Ombre versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bel Ombre but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Bel Ombre the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Bel Ombre?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bel Ombre delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $626 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bel Ombre hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Bel Ombre?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Bel Ombre 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bel Ombre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 97% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.