Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bijeljina Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bijeljina

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $950 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,463 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,976 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Phuket costs about 30% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Bijeljina 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$8.83 BAM 14.74

-47.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$35.58 BAM 59.4

31.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$4.97 BAM 8.30

77.87%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$1.49 BAM 2.49

101.34%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$1.82 BAM 3.04

-59.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$1.08 BAM 1.80

-65.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$1.81 BAM 3.03

34.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$2.42 BAM 4.04

49.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$1.62 BAM 2.70

39.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$1.20 BAM 2.01

53.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$1.74 BAM 2.91

28.74%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$3.25 BAM 5.43

-28.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$7.72 BAM 12.90

154.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$7.96 BAM 13.30

-54.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$12.20 BAM 20.37

7.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$1.60 BAM 2.67

111.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.90 BAM 3.18

-13.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$1.89 BAM 3.16

27.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$2.78 BAM 4.64

-26.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$1.57 BAM 2.62

-0.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$1.41 BAM 2.36

6.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$1.16 BAM 1.94

-12.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$0.62 BAM 1.04

-20.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$3.94 BAM 6.58

12.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$9.12 BAM 15.23

107.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$0.86 BAM 1.43

106.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.49 BAM 2.49

84.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$2.40 BAM 4.01

-41.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

$17.84 BAM 29.80

-35.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$1.50 BAM 2.51

108.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$0.56 BAM 0.93

78.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

$11.70 BAM 19.54

20.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$1.39 BAM 2.33

-2.88%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$26.7K BAM 44.6K

1.70%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$26.6K BAM 44.5K

23.54%

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

$125 ฿4,087

$141 BAM 236

-11.67%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$18.84 BAM 31.46

-27.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$25.04 BAM 41.81

-26.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$30.92 BAM 51.6

98.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

$8.87 BAM 14.82

89.85%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$5.11 BAM 8.53

79.84%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

$208 BAM 347

236.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

$3,301 BAM 5,513

372.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$57.4 BAM 95.8

0.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$26.88 BAM 44.89

31.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$135 BAM 226

-16.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$122 BAM 204

-29.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$253 BAM 423

143.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$173 BAM 288

158.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$368 BAM 614

457.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$300 BAM 502

396.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

$1,883 BAM 3,145

100.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

$1,385 BAM 2,312

91.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

$774 BAM 1,292

-32.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-11.17%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $253 in Bijeljina. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 48% higher in Bijeljina, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $36.00 in Bijeljina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $234 – making Bijeljina 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 Bijeljina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $950 in Bijeljina – roughly 30% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,424 in Bijeljina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bijeljina, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $950 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 55% less in Bijeljina. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bijeljina, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Bijeljina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $950 in Bijeljina to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Bijeljina. 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.