ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,468 in Bjelovar.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,256 in Bjelovar.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $3,044 in Bjelovar.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 16% less than in Bjelovar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Bjelovar is 10% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Bjelovar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$12.66âŽ10.84
-63.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$69.9âŽ59.9
-33.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.54âŽ9.02
-16.13%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.34âŽ2.00
28.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$3.46âŽ2.96
-78.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$2.18âŽ1.87
-83.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$4.22âŽ3.61
-42.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$4.88âŽ4.17
-26.02%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bjelovar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.18âŽ1.01
91.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.54âŽ1.32
19.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$4.13âŽ3.53
-45.76%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.58âŽ3.06
-35.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$16.03âŽ13.72
22.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$10.77âŽ9.22
-66.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$14.30âŽ12.24
-8.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.66âŽ1.42
104.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.72âŽ1.47
-4.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.73âŽ1.48
39.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.55âŽ2.19
-20.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.25âŽ1.07
24.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.28âŽ1.09
17.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.09âŽ0.94
-6.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$1.22âŽ1.04
-59.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$5.82âŽ4.98
-23.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$8.20âŽ7.02
130.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.62âŽ1.38
9.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.02âŽ1.73
36.14%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Bjelovar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.70âŽ1.46
-17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$42.77âŽ36.61
-73.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$3.00âŽ2.57
4.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.33âŽ1.14
-24.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$9.16âŽ7.84
53.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.65âŽ1.41
-18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$37.8KâŽ32.3K
-28.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$25.9KâŽ22.2K
26.98%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bjelovar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$187âŽ160
-33.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$22.76âŽ19.48
-40.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$33.05âŽ28.29
-43.96%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bjelovar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$52.0âŽ44.54
18.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$14.51âŽ12.42
16.06%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$9.52âŽ8.15
-3.47%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bjelovar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$292âŽ250
139.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$8,196âŽ7,015
90.25%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bjelovar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$57.4âŽ49.13
0.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$34.04âŽ29.14
3.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$98.7âŽ84.5
14.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$103âŽ88.0
-15.95%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bjelovar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$674âŽ577
-8.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$464âŽ397
-3.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,061âŽ908
92.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$762âŽ653
95.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$4,045âŽ3,463
-6.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,530âŽ2,166
4.69%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bjelovar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.63
15.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bjelovar: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $674 in Bjelovar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $70.0 in Bjelovar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $295 per month, with Phuket 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 Bjelovar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Bjelovar?
Phuket and Bjelovar differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $1,468 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Bjelovar?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $2,202 in Bjelovar to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Bjelovar?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $674 in Bjelovar. 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 Phuket â a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $70.0 in Bjelovar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Bjelovar?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $1,468 in Bjelovar â a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,468 in Bjelovar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Bjelovar. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Bjelovar?
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 Bjelovar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Bjelovar 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 Bjelovar?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 19% less than in Bjelovar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.