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: $1,261 in Phuket versus $197 in Brikama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $174 in Brikama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $150 in Brikama.

Living in Phuket is roughly 540% more expensive than in Brikama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Brikama 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ฿145

$6.21 GMD 463

-28.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.07 ฿1,151

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 ฿294

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.4

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

$0.77 ฿25.33

$0.71 GMD 52.9

8.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.44

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 ฿78.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ฿59.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ฿46.65

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.8

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$2.48 GMD 185

-14.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.76 ฿648

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿114

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 ฿364

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ฿95.5

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ฿54.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿74.5

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ฿68.8

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.24

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 ฿46.29

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ฿35.78

$0.33 GMD 24.49

230.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ฿17.58

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 ฿147

Wine (Bottle)

$18.72 ฿614

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ฿96.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿74.1

$0.32 GMD 24.11

606.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.07 ฿757

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ฿99.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 ฿35.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 ฿125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿48.79

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

$27.4K ฿900.3K

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

$27.5K ฿902.7K

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

$102 ฿3,340

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

$11.28 ฿370

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.75 ฿582

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 ฿1,777

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ฿360

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 ฿258

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

$577 ฿18.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿381.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 ฿2,144

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.89 ฿948

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ฿3,250

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,961

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ฿24.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 ฿16.0K

$135 GMD 10.1K

260.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 ฿68.4K

$274 GMD 20.5K

660.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ฿39.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 ฿117.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,610 ฿85.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.5K

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: August 18, 2026

Last update for Brikama: August 17, 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 540% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,891 in Phuket and $296 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 2320% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $197 in Brikama – a 540% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $197 in Brikama versus $1,261 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 540% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.