😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,190 in Phuket versus $505 in Beruwala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,006 in Phuket versus $825 in Beruwala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Phuket versus $1,144 in Beruwala.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 136% more expensive than in Beruwala, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket11% lower, Beruwala62% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Beruwala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35฿146
$4.32LKR 1,429
0.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.45฿1,090
$24.61LKR 8,144
31.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42฿283
$7.50LKR 2,483
12.27%
Cappuccino
$2.81฿94.3
$2.42LKR 801
16.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87฿29.40
$0.73LKR 243
19.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46฿15.45
$0.25LKR 81.8
84.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.59฿86.9
$2.19LKR 724
18.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64฿122
$3.09LKR 1,023
17.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Beruwala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿57.4
$1.63LKR 538
4.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45฿48.59
$0.53LKR 177
173.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56฿52.4
$0.76LKR 251
105.26%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.5
$1.57LKR 519
33.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.53฿656
$13.68LKR 4,526
42.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.40฿114
$5.01LKR 1,658
-32.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.14฿374
$7.23LKR 2,393
54.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83฿95.2
$6.94LKR 2,298
-59.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.5
$0.79LKR 261
105.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22฿74.7
$4.61LKR 1,524
-51.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15฿72.1
$1.27LKR 419
69.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49฿50.1
$1.00LKR 330
49.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33฿44.56
$0.82LKR 270
62.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07฿35.84
$0.95LKR 315
12.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿17.07
$0.47LKR 156
8.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38฿147
$10.33LKR 3,418
-57.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.77฿631
$13.77LKR 4,557
36.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74฿58.5
$1.97LKR 651
-11.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿93.3
$3.05LKR 1,008
-8.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Beruwala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.17฿72.8
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.28฿748
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿101
$0.38LKR 124
694.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06฿35.55
$0.38LKR 125
178.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.71฿125
$0.90LKR 297
312.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿48.06
$1.35LKR 445
5.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K฿885.2K
$36.4KLKR 12.0M
-27.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K฿880.4K
$40.6KLKR 13.4M
-35.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Beruwala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.7฿3,248
$54.2LKR 17.9K
78.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41฿383
$4.21LKR 1,392
171.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11฿575
$20.75LKR 6,866
-17.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Beruwala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8฿1,774
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿372
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.65฿257
$4.46LKR 1,477
71.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Beruwala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$555฿18.6K
$37.96LKR 12.6K
1361.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K฿379.1K
$1,202LKR 397.6K
838.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Beruwala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4฿2,131
$18.02LKR 5,963
251.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.61฿961
$16.67LKR 5,516
71.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7฿3,250
$78.1LKR 25.8K
23.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6฿2,977
$42.70LKR 14.1K
107.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Beruwala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$735฿24.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458฿15.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,102฿70.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,187฿39.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,493฿117.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,491฿83.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Beruwala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$501฿16.8K
$152LKR 50.4K
228.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
12.69
-56.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026
Last update for Beruwala: October 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Phuket pays 229% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Beruwala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $240 per month, with Beruwala 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 Beruwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beruwala cheaper than Phuket?
Beruwala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 136% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Beruwala?
Average pay runs 229% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Beruwala?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Beruwala?
All in, you'll spend $1,190 per month in Phuket versus $505 in Beruwala – a 136% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Beruwala?
At $505 in Beruwala versus $1,190 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beruwala but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Beruwala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Beruwala more family-friendly?
For families, Beruwala 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.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Beruwala?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Beruwala 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Beruwala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 136% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.