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 $947 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,485 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $2,024 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 10% lower, Bijeljina 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$8.87 BAM 15.12

-50.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$35.86 BAM 61.1

-10.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$4.80 BAM 8.19

86.04%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$1.45 BAM 2.47

100.00%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$1.73 BAM 2.94

-49.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$1.03 BAM 1.76

-53.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$1.78 BAM 3.04

32.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$2.32 BAM 3.95

60.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.63 BAM 2.77

14.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$1.22 BAM 2.08

20.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$1.74 BAM 2.96

-10.92%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$3.21 BAM 5.47

-34.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$7.63 BAM 13.00

156.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$8.06 BAM 13.75

-57.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$12.11 BAM 20.65

-6.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$1.68 BAM 2.86

77.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.84 BAM 3.14

-8.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.91 BAM 3.26

15.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$2.65 BAM 4.52

-18.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$1.64 BAM 2.79

-7.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$1.45 BAM 2.47

-7.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$1.16 BAM 1.98

-2.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.67 BAM 1.15

-17.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$3.76 BAM 6.42

13.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$8.67 BAM 14.78

120.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$0.91 BAM 1.56

95.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$1.44 BAM 2.45

93.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

$2.32 BAM 3.96

-3.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

$17.54 BAM 29.91

29.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$1.47 BAM 2.50

106.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$0.58 BAM 0.98

75.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$10.64 BAM 18.14

-63.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$1.49 BAM 2.54

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$31.6K BAM 53.8K

-15.77%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$19.0K BAM 32.3K

42.49%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$141 BAM 241

-27.56%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$18.81 BAM 32.07

-39.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$24.14 BAM 41.15

-27.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$30.37 BAM 51.8

71.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

$8.65 BAM 14.75

27.98%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$4.97 BAM 8.47

54.73%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$212 BAM 361

164.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$4,356 BAM 7,426

164.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$58.9 BAM 100

6.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$26.51 BAM 45.20

11.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$133 BAM 226

-26.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$126 BAM 214

-29.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$259 BAM 442

184.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$169 BAM 289

185.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$362 BAM 617

481.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$292 BAM 497

320.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

$1,856 BAM 3,165

94.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

$1,365 BAM 2,327

90.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$780 BAM 1,330

-36.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-7.17%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $259 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 58% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $36.00 in Bijeljina. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $233 in Bijeljina – so Bijeljina wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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, $947 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 $1,421 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 $947 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 30% 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 $947, 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 $947 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.