Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Brikama Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Brikama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,243 in Phuket versus $199 in Brikama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Phuket versus $174 in Brikama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Phuket versus $150 in Brikama.

Living in Phuket is roughly 526% more expensive than in Brikama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Brikama 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.37 ฿147

$6.25 GMD 461

-30.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.87 ฿1,103

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.39 ฿282

Cappuccino

$2.73 ฿91.8

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ฿29.59

$0.70 GMD 51.8

25.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ฿61.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ฿48.58

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.9

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.4

$2.39 GMD 176

-12.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.37 ฿650

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿115

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.96 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 ฿101

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.9

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿74.1

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 ฿71.2

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿49.34

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ฿44.37

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.93

$0.36 GMD 26.22

197.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.61

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$18.59 ฿624

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 ฿58.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 ฿95.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$0.33 GMD 24.20

584.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.98 ฿771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 ฿98.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.96

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.2K ฿912.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.6K ฿893.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$102 ฿3,420

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.96 ฿368

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.89 ฿567

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ฿1,758

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.93 ฿367

Cinema Ticket

$7.52 ฿252

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$547 ฿18.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿379.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 ฿2,122

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 ฿981

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 ฿3,282

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.7 ฿2,909

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$721 ฿24.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 ฿16.0K

$136 GMD 10.1K

249.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,081 ฿69.8K

$273 GMD 20.2K

662.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,194 ฿40.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,577 ฿120.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,541 ฿85.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$489 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 28, 2026

Last update for Brikama: September 27, 2026

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 Brikama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Brikama is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 526% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,865 in Phuket and $298 in Brikama 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2353% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,243 per month in Phuket versus $199 in Brikama – a 526% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $199 in Brikama versus $1,243 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Brikama but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Brikama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Brikama is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Brikama are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Brikama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 526% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.