Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bundaberg Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bundaberg

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,910 in Bundaberg, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,933 in Bundaberg, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $3,955 in Bundaberg, rent included.

Phuket is about 36% cheaper than Bundaberg, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 8% below the global median, while Bundaberg is 43% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Bundaberg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$15.99 A$22.38
-71.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$64.1 A$89.8
-26.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$8.23 A$11.52
7.41%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$3.54 A$4.95
-15.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$2.24 A$3.13
-66.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$1.98 A$2.77
-81.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$5.11 A$7.15
-52.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$7.02 A$9.83
-48.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Bundaberg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$2.13 A$2.98
6.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$1.86 A$2.61
-1.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$3.07 A$4.30
-27.04%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$4.34 A$6.07
-46.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$9.55 A$13.37
105.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$10.35 A$14.49
-64.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$21.09 A$29.53
-37.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$3.26 A$4.57
3.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$2.48 A$3.47
-33.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$2.63 A$3.68
-8.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$4.09 A$5.72
-50.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$2.98 A$4.18
-47.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$2.29 A$3.20
-34.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$1.99 A$2.78
-48.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$3.42 A$4.79
-85.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$28.24 A$39.54
-84.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$13.28 A$18.59
42.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$6.84 A$9.58
-73.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$7.36 A$10.30
-62.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Bundaberg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$2.58 A$3.61
-45.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$57.2 A$80.0
-79.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$1.29 A$1.80
141.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$3.17 A$4.43
-68.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$33.30 A$46.62
-57.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.19 A$1.66
13.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$26.2K A$36.7K
3.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$26.5K A$37.0K
24.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Bundaberg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$133 A$186
-5.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$26.38 A$36.94
-48.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$56.9 A$79.7
-67.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Bundaberg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$26.09 A$36.52
135.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$12.84 A$17.97
31.15%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$11.59 A$16.22
-20.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Bundaberg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$456 A$639
53.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$19.0K A$26.6K
-17.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Bundaberg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$78.5 A$110
-26.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$68.5 A$95.9
-48.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$123 A$172
-8.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$148 A$208
-41.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Bundaberg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$807 A$1,130
-23.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$731 A$1,023
-38.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$1,537 A$2,152
33.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$1,279 A$1,790
16.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$5,875 A$8,226
-35.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$4,521 A$6,329
-41.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Bundaberg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
$2,799 A$3,919
-81.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6.5
-18.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bundaberg: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $807 in Bundaberg. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 434% higher in Bundaberg, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $64.0 in Bundaberg. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $413 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bundaberg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Bundaberg?
Bundaberg costs about 55% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Bundaberg?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,866 in Bundaberg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Bundaberg?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Bundaberg?
Groceries cost about 42% more in Bundaberg, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Bundaberg?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $64.0 in Bundaberg. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Bundaberg?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Bundaberg at $1,910. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bundaberg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Bundaberg?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $1,910 in Bundaberg. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Bundaberg?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or Bundaberg?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bundaberg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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