😐A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $930 in Bijeljina, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,466 in Bijeljina, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $2,002 in Bijeljina, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 36% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Phuket5% lower, Bijeljina30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Bijeljina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$8.82BAM 14.94
-49.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$35.78BAM 60.6
27.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$5.16BAM 8.73
69.77%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$1.48BAM 2.51
100.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$1.78BAM 3.01
-61.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$1.05BAM 1.77
-62.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$1.76BAM 2.97
43.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$2.30BAM 3.89
63.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bijeljina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.57BAM 2.66
36.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$1.20BAM 2.04
51.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.69BAM 2.87
28.99%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$3.22BAM 5.45
-30.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$7.71BAM 13.06
159.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$8.03BAM 13.60
-54.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$12.15BAM 20.57
11.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$1.63BAM 2.75
98.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$1.86BAM 3.15
-11.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$1.91BAM 3.23
21.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$2.77BAM 4.70
-25.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.65BAM 2.79
-6.06%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$1.40BAM 2.37
4.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$1.17BAM 1.97
-16.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.67BAM 1.13
-28.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$3.75BAM 6.36
16.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$8.87BAM 15.02
109.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$0.90BAM 1.52
106.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$1.51BAM 2.56
75.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Bijeljina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$2.29BAM 3.88
-37.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$18.00BAM 30.48
-35.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$1.51BAM 2.55
109.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$0.56BAM 0.95
83.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$11.66BAM 19.74
19.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.45BAM 2.45
-7.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$26.2KBAM 44.3K
6.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$26.6KBAM 45.0K
25.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bijeljina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$141BAM 238
-12.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$19.19BAM 32.48
-28.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$24.65BAM 41.74
-25.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bijeljina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$30.26BAM 51.2
100.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$8.62BAM 14.59
99.07%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$4.99BAM 8.45
77.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bijeljina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$208BAM 353
230.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$3,307BAM 5,598
377.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bijeljina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$58.8BAM 99.5
0.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$26.17BAM 44.30
32.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$131BAM 222
-12.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$121BAM 206
-31.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bijeljina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$261BAM 443
137.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$170BAM 288
161.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$365BAM 618
457.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$293BAM 497
409.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$1,880BAM 3,183
83.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
$1,364BAM 2,308
85.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bijeljina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$754BAM 1,276
-34.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6
-11.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Bijeljina: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $261 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 53% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $36.00 in Bijeljina. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 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
How do living costs in Phuket and in Bijeljina compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,264 in Phuket, $930 in Bijeljina – roughly 36% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Bijeljina?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $1,395 in Bijeljina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Bijeljina?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Bijeljina?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,264 in Phuket and $930 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and in Bijeljina?
Public transport costs about 56% less in Bijeljina. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bijeljina, where all-in costs run around $930, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Bijeljina 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 Bijeljina?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $930 in Bijeljina to $1,264 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Bijeljina 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 Bijeljina?
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.