๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,235 in Beliลกฤe.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,834 in Beliลกฤe.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,433 in Beliลกฤe.
๐Living in Phuket is roughly 2% more expensive than Beliลกฤe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Beliลกฤe8% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56เธฟ149
$8.31โฌ7.16
-45.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63เธฟ1,519
$40.17โฌ34.61
16.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47เธฟ276
$6.84โฌ5.90
23.83%
Cappuccino
$3.03เธฟ98.6
$2.05โฌ1.77
47.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69เธฟ22.45
$2.36โฌ2.03
-70.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37เธฟ11.92
$2.01โฌ1.73
-81.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49เธฟ81.0
$2.38โฌ2.05
4.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66เธฟ119
$2.35โฌ2.03
55.74%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18เธฟ71.0
$0.92โฌ0.79
136.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90เธฟ62.0
$0.66โฌ0.57
187.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20เธฟ71.6
$2.94โฌ2.53
-25.17%
Eggs
$2.22เธฟ72.4
$3.17โฌ2.73
-29.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99เธฟ651
$10.79โฌ9.30
85.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66เธฟ119
$7.43โฌ6.40
-50.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25เธฟ432
$11.26โฌ9.70
17.67%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23เธฟ105
$1.15โฌ0.99
180.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70เธฟ55.3
$1.43โฌ1.23
18.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39เธฟ78.0
$1.63โฌ1.41
46.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08เธฟ67.7
$2.46โฌ2.12
-15.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59เธฟ51.8
$0.97โฌ0.84
63.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48เธฟ48.31
$1.18โฌ1.02
25.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03เธฟ33.54
$1.20โฌ1.04
-14.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52เธฟ16.83
$0.97โฌ0.84
-46.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25เธฟ138
$5.50โฌ4.74
-22.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79เธฟ612
$7.08โฌ6.10
165.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76เธฟ57.2
$1.18โฌ1.02
49.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76เธฟ89.8
$1.92โฌ1.66
43.75%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
Beliลกฤe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36เธฟ44.32
$1.72โฌ1.48
-20.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36เธฟ370
$42.47โฌ36.59
-73.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14เธฟ102
$3.71โฌ3.19
-15.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04เธฟ33.74
$1.15โฌ0.99
-9.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77เธฟ448
$5.76โฌ4.96
139.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34เธฟ43.79
$1.68โฌ1.44
-20.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7Kเธฟ901.4K
$32.2Kโฌ27.7K
-14.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9Kเธฟ1.1M
$27.5Kโฌ23.7K
23.31%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124เธฟ4,025
$123โฌ106
0.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52เธฟ440
$17.63โฌ15.19
-23.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69เธฟ609
$26.57โฌ22.90
-29.66%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8เธฟ2,013
$26.03โฌ22.43
137.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25เธฟ562
$14.48โฌ12.48
19.13%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14เธฟ298
$5.22โฌ4.50
75.10%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703เธฟ22.9K
$349โฌ301
101.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9Kเธฟ517.0K
$2,796โฌ2,409
467.59%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5เธฟ1,937
$122โฌ105
-51.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07เธฟ1,142
$42.61โฌ36.71
-17.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115เธฟ3,754
$46.03โฌ39.66
150.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1เธฟ2,737
$58.4โฌ50.4
43.85%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Beliลกฤe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619เธฟ20.1K
$190โฌ164
225.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433เธฟ14.1K
$469โฌ404
-7.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062เธฟ67.2K
$343โฌ295
501.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511เธฟ49.2K
$775โฌ668
94.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646เธฟ118.7K
$4,251โฌ3,663
-14.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626เธฟ85.5K
$1,189โฌ1,024
120.85%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Beliลกฤe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507เธฟ16.5K
$1,818โฌ1,566
-72.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.2
66.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Beliลกฤe: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $190 in Beliลกฤe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐBeliลกฤe pays 259% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $40.00 in Beliลกฤe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $222 per month, with Beliลกฤe 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 Beliลกฤe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Beliลกฤe?
Phuket and Beliลกฤe differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $1,235 including rent). Beliลกฤe is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Beliลกฤe earns 259% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Beliลกฤe?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $190 in Beliลกฤe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Beliลกฤe?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $349 in Beliลกฤe. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,235 in Beliลกฤe versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Beliลกฤe but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Beliลกฤe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Beliลกฤe?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Beliลกฤe safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Beliลกฤe are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Beliลกฤe?
Expats usually find Beliลกฤe gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 2% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.