Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Buzias Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Buzias

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,136 in Buzias, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,736 in Buzias, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $2,336 in Buzias, rent included.

Phuket costs about 8% more than Buzias, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Buzias are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Buzias 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Buzias
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$11.50 RON 50.0
-59.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,523
$58.6 RON 255
-20.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿287
$7.96 RON 34.63
11.06%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿97.4
$3.36 RON 14.61
-10.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.11
$2.41 RON 10.47
-69.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.88
$2.23 RON 9.71
-83.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.3
$3.15 RON 13.71
-22.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿117
$3.97 RON 17.26
-9.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Buzias
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.5
$1.79 RON 7.79
26.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿59.8
$1.35 RON 5.86
36.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.0
$1.80 RON 7.83
24.44%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.3
$3.22 RON 14.03
-27.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿639
$9.77 RON 42.48
101.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$7.02 RON 30.54
-48.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿426
$11.80 RON 51.3
11.02%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿110
$1.24 RON 5.39
173.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.4
$1.80 RON 7.83
-8.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.5
$1.64 RON 7.15
46.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.0
$2.39 RON 10.42
-15.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.6
$0.97 RON 4.21
60.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.66
$0.98 RON 4.26
53.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.30
$1.09 RON 4.73
-6.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿15.91
$0.95 RON 4.15
-48.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$6.52 RON 28.35
-31.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿614
$7.89 RON 34.34
139.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿57.7
$1.17 RON 5.09
52.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿89.5
$2.04 RON 8.89
34.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Buzias
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.54
$0.67 RON 2.90
108.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿373
$19.42 RON 84.5
-40.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿101
$0.99 RON 4.32
215.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.48
$0.87 RON 3.80
14.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿458
$9.30 RON 40.45
51.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿43.93
$1.71 RON 7.44
-21.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿883.7K
$28.3K RON 123.2K
-4.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$26.2K RON 113.9K
25.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Buzias
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,063
$160 RON 695
-21.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿441
$8.72 RON 37.93
55.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿602
$10.04 RON 43.66
84.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Buzias
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿1,999
$41.04 RON 179
49.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿547
$19.10 RON 83.1
-11.83%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿299
$8.03 RON 34.92
14.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Buzias
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.7K
$492 RON 2,141
41.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿506.9K
$10.8K RON 47.0K
44.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Buzias
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,878
$70.9 RON 308
-18.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,146
$39.97 RON 174
-11.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,677
$84.1 RON 366
34.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,808
$98.2 RON 427
-12.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Buzias
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.0K
$396 RON 1,721
55.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.5K
$291 RON 1,267
53.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿66.6K
$588 RON 2,557
248.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.5K
$432 RON 1,880
245.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿122.8K
$1,949 RON 8,476
93.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.1K
$1,534 RON 6,673
72.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Buzias
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.85
-8.89%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Buzias: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $396 in Buzias. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $59.0 in Buzias. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $233 in Buzias – so Buzias wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Buzias: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buzias cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,705 in Buzias. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Buzias, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 69% less in Buzias. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $492 in Buzias. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Buzias?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Buzias, where all-in costs run around $1,136, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Buzias it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Buzias more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Buzias – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Buzias?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Buzias. 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.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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