ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $901 in Binan City, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,376 in Binan City, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,850 in Binan City, rent included.
ðPhuket costs about 37% more than Binan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Phuket and Binan City are more affordable than the global median â Phuket8% lower, Binan City33% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$4.76âą294
-2.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$21.05âą1,298
122.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$3.12âą193
183.33%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.98âą184
0.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.93âą57.7
-20.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.38âą23.16
-2.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.23âą75.7
98.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.65âą163
36.23%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$2.15âą133
5.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.26âą77.4
46.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.07âą66.3
109.35%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$2.00âą124
16.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$6.87âą424
186.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$4.38âą270
-16.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$7.44âą459
76.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$4.32âą266
-21.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.52âą94.0
7.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.61âą161
-7.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.70âą105
19.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.76âą171
-43.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$2.93âą181
-48.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.64âą101
-37.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$1.01âą62.2
-51.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$3.24âą200
37.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$8.43âą520
123.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.25âą77.3
42.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.04âą126
34.80%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.26âą15.88
438.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$0.79âą48.46
294.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.24âą14.86
316.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$3.63âą224
288.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.11âą68.2
21.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$25.5Kâą1.6M
6.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$20.6Kâą1.3M
60.16%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$167âą10.3K
-25.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$32.51âą2,005
-58.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$34.87âą2,151
-46.89%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$33.87âą2,089
81.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$7.06âą435
30.17%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$81.3âą5,013
759.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$7,161âą441.7K
117.75%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$32.50âą2,004
77.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$29.77âą1,836
18.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$84.7âą5,225
33.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$94.8âą5,845
-8.85%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$266âą16.4K
131.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$179âą11.0K
149.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$591âą36.5K
246.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$401âą24.7K
272.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.67
-20.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Binan City: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $266 in Binan City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $21.00 in Binan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $221 â making Binan City 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 Binan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Binan City cheaper than Phuket?
Yes â Phuket is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,352 in Binan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Binan City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Binan City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $901 in Binan City. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $81.3 in Binan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Binan City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Binan City, where all-in costs run around $901, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Binan City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Binan City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Binan City â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Binan City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Binan City. 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.