Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Belmopan Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Belmopan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,074 in Belmopan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,563 in Belmopan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $2,051 in Belmopan, rent included.

Phuket costs about 18% more than Belmopan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Phuket and Belmopan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Belmopan 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Belmopan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$7.44 BZD 14.89
-37.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$17.30 BZD 34.61
86.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$7.49 BZD 14.98
15.89%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$5.55 BZD 11.09
-47.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$0.64 BZD 1.29
31.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$0.48 BZD 0.96
2.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$1.53 BZD 3.06
62.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$2.19 BZD 4.38
70.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Belmopan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$2.36 BZD 4.71
-19.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$1.67 BZD 3.35
-15.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$1.69 BZD 3.38
-4.14%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$1.92 BZD 3.84
16.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$8.72 BZD 17.43
127.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$6.46 BZD 12.92
-46.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$12.18 BZD 24.37
-6.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$1.11 BZD 2.23
54.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$2.24 BZD 4.47
1.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$5.40 BZD 10.81
-60.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$17.19 BZD 34.39
8.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$2.31 BZD 4.62
-22.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$2.26 BZD 4.52
31.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Belmopan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$4.05 BZD 8.11
-44.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$3.29 BZD 6.57
-5.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$4.11 BZD 8.22
-73.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$1.76 BZD 3.52
-18.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Belmopan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$152 BZD 304
-30.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$49.00 BZD 98.0
-76.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$38.06 BZD 76.1
-53.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Belmopan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$44.26 BZD 88.5
22.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$8.80 BZD 17.61
-11.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Belmopan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Belmopan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Belmopan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$439 BZD 879
66.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$320 BZD 639
56.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$545 BZD 1,091
129.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Belmopan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Belmopan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $439 in Belmopan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $17.00 in Belmopan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $243 – making Belmopan 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 Belmopan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Belmopan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $1,074 in Belmopan – roughly 18% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Belmopan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,611 in Belmopan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Belmopan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Belmopan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $17.00 in Belmopan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Belmopan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $1,074 in Belmopan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Belmopan, where all-in costs run around $1,074, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Belmopan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Belmopan?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,074 in Belmopan to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Belmopan safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Belmopan?
If budget matters most, go with Belmopan. 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.

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