Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bugaba Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bugaba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $661 in Bugaba, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,022 in Bugaba, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,383 in Bugaba, rent included.

Phuket costs about 86% more than Bugaba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Bugaba are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Bugaba 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$2.96 PAB 2.96

56.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$4.93 PAB 4.93

79.31%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$1.27 PAB 1.27

136.22%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$0.97 PAB 0.97

-23.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$0.52 PAB 0.52

-28.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$1.54 PAB 1.54

58.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$1.97 PAB 1.97

83.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$1.58 PAB 1.58

43.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$2.06 PAB 2.06

-10.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$1.53 PAB 1.53

46.41%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$2.71 PAB 2.71

-14.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$2.97 PAB 2.97

562.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$3.34 PAB 3.34

9.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$4.08 PAB 4.08

221.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$1.97 PAB 1.97

72.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.48 PAB 1.48

10.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$1.23 PAB 1.23

95.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$0.97 PAB 0.97

109.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$1.28 PAB 1.28

21.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$1.46 PAB 1.46

2.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$0.49 PAB 0.49

108.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$1.22 PAB 1.22

-59.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$10.16 PAB 10.16

-56.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.53 PAB 1.53

16.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.98 PAB 1.98

38.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

$0.43 PAB 0.43

225.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

$30.27 PAB 30.27

-62.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$1.53 PAB 1.53

103.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$1.94 PAB 1.94

-48.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

$19.93 PAB 19.93

-29.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

$1.05 PAB 1.05

28.57%

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

$24.6K PAB 24.6K

10.69%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$18.1K PAB 18.1K

81.78%

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

$125 ฿4,087

$74.2 PAB 74.2

68.35%

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

$13.57 ฿444

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$39.52 PAB 39.52

-53.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$34.59 PAB 34.59

77.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

$49.58 PAB 49.58

-66.03%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$4.05 PAB 4.05

126.91%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$54.1 PAB 54.1

6.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

$40.69 PAB 40.69

-13.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$60.9 PAB 60.9

85.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$49.37 PAB 49.37

74.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$198 PAB 198

211.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$152 PAB 152

193.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$649 PAB 649

215.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

$355 PAB 355

320.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

77.67%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bugaba: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $198 in Bugaba. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Bugaba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 86% more than Bugaba, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $992 in Bugaba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bugaba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $661 in Bugaba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 89% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bugaba, where all-in costs run around $661, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Bugaba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bugaba costs $661 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bugaba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.