😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $582 in Binh Duong.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $936 in Binh Duong.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,291 in Binh Duong.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 110% more expensive than Binh Duong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Binh Duong56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$1.96₫51.3K
130.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$11.65₫305.7K
300.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$4.67₫122.5K
81.80%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$1.70₫44.7K
81.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$0.51₫13.5K
33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$0.30₫7,872
20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$0.90₫23.5K
170.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$1.08₫28.4K
236.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$1.53₫40.2K
43.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$0.75₫19.7K
141.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$0.64₫16.8K
248.44%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$1.45₫38.1K
54.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$11.65₫305.7K
68.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$3.44₫90.3K
8.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
$10.14₫266.2K
32.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$2.09₫54.9K
60.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$0.56₫14.7K
189.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$0.70₫18.5K
244.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$1.02₫26.8K
95.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$0.99₫25.9K
54.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$1.00₫26.3K
45.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$0.70₫18.3K
44.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$0.50₫13.1K
-4.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$0.75₫19.7K
469.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$9.46₫248.3K
102.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$0.56₫14.8K
228.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$0.99₫26.1K
176.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
$0.31₫8,246
358.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
$6.68₫175.3K
75.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$0.36₫9,523
733.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$0.61₫15.9K
72.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$3.12₫81.8K
345.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$0.85₫22.2K
51.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$38.3K₫1.0B
-26.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$34.0K₫892.4M
-1.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$37.72₫989.7K
223.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$6.07₫159.4K
129.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$6.58₫172.6K
186.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
$21.12₫554.1K
190.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
$7.70₫202.0K
118.70%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$2.91₫76.4K
205.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$273₫7.2M
153.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$14.1K₫370.4M
14.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$30.93₫811.7K
86.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$15.41₫404.2K
129.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$76.9₫2.0M
47.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$69.1₫1.8M
20.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
$259₫6.8M
134.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
$165₫4.3M
171.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
$604₫15.8M
236.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
$390₫10.2M
282.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
$1,570₫41.2M
128.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
$937₫24.6M
175.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Binh Duong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
$346₫9.1M
45.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.14
-41.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Binh Duong: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $259 in Binh Duong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 46% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $12.00 in Binh Duong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $173 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 110% in total monthly costs ($1,223 vs $582 including rent). Binh Duong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Binh Duong?
Phuket pays 46% 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: $607 in Phuket versus $259 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 – a meal for two runs $12.00 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 $1,223 per month in Phuket versus $582 in Binh Duong – a 110% 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 $582 in Binh Duong versus $1,223 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 – 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 – expenses run 110% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.