Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Binan City

For one person, living is cheaper in Binan City: $724 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Binan City, Philippines
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Binan City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$724
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Binan City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Binan City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Phuket vs $724 in Binan City, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • Binan City $724

A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Phuket vs $1,095 in Binan City, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • Binan City $1,095

A family of three spends $3,115 per month in Phuket vs $1,467 in Binan City, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • Binan City $1,467

Phuket costs about 79% more than Binan City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Binan City are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 4% lower, Binan City 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿148
$3.95 ₱251
11.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,086
$16.37 ₱1,041
97.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿293
$2.70 ₱172
222.22%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.6
$1.81 ₱115
50.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.28
$0.59 ₱37.77
57.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.79
$0.31 ₱19.60
61.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿85.1
$0.93 ₱59.4
172.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿122
$1.58 ₱101
129.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.5
$1.66 ₱106
4.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.77
$1.11 ₱70.5
30.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.00 ₱63.9
50.00%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿73.0
$2.03 ₱129
6.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿642
$4.75 ₱302
301.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
$3.45 ₱219
-1.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿366
$6.68 ₱425
63.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿98.9
$2.39 ₱152
23.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$1.53 ₱97.1
10.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.8
$2.38 ₱151
-7.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.4
$1.01 ₱64.3
109.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿49.03
$1.65 ₱105
-11.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿45.99
$1.57 ₱99.9
-12.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿36.17
$0.93 ₱59.3
16.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.34
$0.53 ₱33.82
3.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿149
$2.59 ₱165
71.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿614
$7.75 ₱492
135.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.6
$0.89 ₱56.7
98.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿96.8
$1.95 ₱124
47.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.66
$0.24 ₱15.34
504.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,845
$12.31 ₱783
345.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿50.9
$0.66 ₱41.93
128.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿26.08
$0.22 ₱13.98
254.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿129
$1.85 ₱117
107.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿50.0
$1.20 ₱76.0
24.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿903.7K
$21.1K ₱1.3M
27.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿885.7K
$19.1K ₱1.2M
38.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,288
$136 ₱8,678
-28.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿380
$15.50 ₱985
-27.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿578
$31.05 ₱1,974
-44.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,297
$31.82 ₱2,023
114.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿367
$5.11 ₱325
113.70%
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿250
$5.10 ₱324
45.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.8K
$129 ₱8,191
311.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿631.4K
$7,277 ₱462.6K
158.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,073
$27.80 ₱1,767
121.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿950
$19.14 ₱1,217
47.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,228
$70.7 ₱4,498
35.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,919
$54.4 ₱3,457
59.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.2K
$254 ₱16.1K
184.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.1K
$164 ₱10.5K
209.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.6K
$485 ₱30.8K
302.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿47.0K
$354 ₱22.5K
295.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿140.9K
$2,619 ₱166.5K
60.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿110.9K
$1,096 ₱69.7K
200.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Binan City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.75
-17.48%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Binan City: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
Binan City
$164 67.7% $345
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
Binan City
$169 36.6% $98
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
Binan City
$183 44.9% $57
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
Binan City
$77 36.9% $45
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
Binan City
$73 39% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
Binan City
$42 49.5% $41
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
Binan City
$15 77.3% $51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $721 in Phuket versus $254 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $16 in Binan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $169 – making Binan City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇵🇭 Binan City
🕒 Local time
04:01 4:01 AM
05:01 5:01 AM
1 h ahead of Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
407,037
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.85 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 63.58 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.57 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Binan City 2,580 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Binan City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 – Phuket is pricier by about 79%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Phuket and $1,086 in Binan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Binan City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $254 there versus $721 in Phuket.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $530 per month in Phuket and $129 in Binan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Binan City?
Groceries cost about 58% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Binan City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Binan City, where all-in costs run around $724, than in Phuket at $1,294. 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 – 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 cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Binan City is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 44% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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