ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $562 in Binh Duong.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $915 in Binh Duong.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,267 in Binh Duong.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 119% more expensive than Binh Duong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Binh Duong58% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$1.87âŦ49.0K
147.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$11.38âŦ298.5K
311.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$4.53âŦ118.9K
95.14%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.78âŦ46.6K
68.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.48âŦ12.6K
54.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.30âŦ7,873
23.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$0.95âŦ24.9K
156.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$1.07âŦ28.0K
237.38%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.45âŦ38.0K
55.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.78âŦ20.5K
135.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$0.65âŦ17.2K
244.62%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$1.48âŦ38.9K
56.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$11.38âŦ298.4K
72.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$3.45âŦ90.5K
5.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$9.84âŦ258.2K
33.13%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.14âŦ56.2K
58.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$0.60âŦ15.6K
173.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$0.66âŦ17.4K
265.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.03âŦ26.9K
97.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.00âŦ26.2K
56.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.00âŦ26.4K
50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.74âŦ19.5K
37.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.49âŦ12.9K
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$0.74âŦ19.5K
501.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$9.31âŦ244.3K
102.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$0.55âŦ14.5K
223.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.00âŦ26.2K
175.00%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.35âŦ9,063
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$6.51âŦ170.7K
76.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$0.39âŦ10.4K
700.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.62âŦ16.2K
61.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$3.09âŦ81.1K
355.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$0.79âŦ20.8K
70.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$37.4KâŦ982.1M
-27.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$33.4KâŦ876.4M
-1.44%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$38.68âŦ1.0M
223.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$5.75âŦ151.0K
136.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$6.64âŦ174.3K
178.92%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$21.78âŦ571.5K
182.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$7.56âŦ198.4K
122.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$3.02âŦ79.3K
204.30%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$273âŦ7.2M
155.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$13.8KâŦ362.2M
12.94%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$31.84âŦ835.2K
81.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$15.62âŦ409.7K
125.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$75.3âŦ2.0M
50.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$68.7âŦ1.8M
25.68%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$263âŦ6.9M
134.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$164âŦ4.3M
171.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$603âŦ15.8M
239.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$386âŦ10.1M
286.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,547âŦ40.6M
144.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$940âŦ24.7M
181.80%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$345âŦ9.1M
51.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.14
-41.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Binh Duong: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $263 in Binh Duong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 52% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $11.00 in Binh Duong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $171 per month, with Binh Duong cheaper across the board.
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 Binh Duong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Binh Duong?
Phuket and Binh Duong differ by about 119% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $562 including rent). Binh Duong is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Binh Duong?
Phuket pays 52% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Binh Duong?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $263 in Binh Duong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Binh Duong â a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Binh Duong?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $562 in Binh Duong â a 119% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $562 in Binh Duong versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Binh Duong but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Binh Duong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Binh Duong?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Binh Duong safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Binh Duong are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Binh Duong?
Expats usually find Binh Duong gentler on the wallet â expenses run 119% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.