Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bella Vista Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bella Vista

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $187 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $309 in Bella Vista, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $431 in Bella Vista, rent included.

Phuket costs about 576% more than Bella Vista, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Bella Vista are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Bella Vista 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿154

$1.95 ₲11.9K

141.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,483

$13.36 ₲81.4K

239.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿276

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.7

$1.97 ₲12.0K

48.73%

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

$0.69 ฿22.42

$0.98 ₲5,951

-29.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.00

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$1.46 ₲8,925

154.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿73.0

$0.83 ₲5,073

168.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.9

$0.48 ₲2,901

281.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.9

$1.01 ₲6,170

114.85%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.4

$2.07 ₲12.6K

6.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$6.04 ₲36.8K

226.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.96 ₲18.0K

22.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.7

$0.68 ₲4,169

136.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.97

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.32

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.68

$1.01 ₲6,165

-49.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$0.98 ₲5,968

350.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿634

$4.90 ₲29.9K

295.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$0.78 ₲4,741

128.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.7

$1.82 ₲11.1K

48.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.83

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.55

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

$28.2K ฿921.9K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,978

$17.93 ₲109.3K

578.75%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$11.94 ₲72.8K

13.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿599

$19.90 ₲121.3K

-7.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,969

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,946

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,137

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,746

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,723

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$373 ₲2.3M

36.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Bella Vista: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 36% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $13.00 in Bella Vista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $92.0 – making Bella Vista the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bella Vista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 576% more than Bella Vista, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $281 in Bella Vista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $187 in Bella Vista. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 219% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bella Vista, where all-in costs run around $187, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Bella Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bella Vista costs $187 versus $1,265 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bella Vista. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.