Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Denpasar, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Denpasar, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,637 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $2,331 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Phuket is roughly 33% more expensive than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Denpasar, Bali 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$2.38 Rp 42.8K

91.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$21.21 Rp 381.2K

117.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$3.39 Rp 61.0K

160.77%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.87 Rp 33.6K

63.64%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.86 Rp 15.5K

-15.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.49 Rp 8,825

-18.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$2.02 Rp 36.3K

20.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$2.54 Rp 45.7K

48.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.42 Rp 25.5K

59.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$2.07 Rp 37.2K

-12.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$0.99 Rp 17.9K

127.27%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$1.96 Rp 35.2K

14.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$11.90 Rp 213.8K

63.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$3.50 Rp 62.9K

4.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$9.90 Rp 177.9K

31.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$3.12 Rp 56.1K

3.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.29 Rp 23.3K

25.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

4.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$1.83 Rp 32.9K

10.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

-1.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.85 Rp 33.2K

-18.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

19.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

-16.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$2.65 Rp 47.6K

67.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$18.39 Rp 330.6K

-0.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$2.35 Rp 42.3K

-20.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

19.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.26 Rp 4,703

442.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$7.41 Rp 133.2K

57.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$0.44 Rp 7,871

606.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$0.38 Rp 6,863

173.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$5.43 Rp 97.6K

159.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

81.94%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$23.1K Rp 414.3M

20.66%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$28.6K Rp 513.4M

16.28%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

68.00%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$3.72 Rp 66.9K

265.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$21.15 Rp 380.1K

-11.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

-11.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

$4.71 Rp 84.6K

260.51%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$2.81 Rp 50.6K

222.78%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$233 Rp 4.2M

202.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$5,136 Rp 92.3M

207.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$46.35 Rp 832.9K

26.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$32.50 Rp 584.0K

8.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$75.6 Rp 1.4M

52.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

27.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$528 Rp 9.5M

18.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$356 Rp 6.4M

25.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$1,791 Rp 32.2M

13.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$1,090 Rp 19.6M

36.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

$1,415 Rp 25.4M

146.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$1,164 Rp 20.9M

121.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$278 Rp 5.0M

80.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

13.28

-59.86%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 80% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $243 per month, with Denpasar, Bali cheaper across the board.

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 Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($1,250 vs $942 including rent). Denpasar, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 80% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Denpasar, Bali runs roughly 58% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $942 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Denpasar, Bali but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Denpasar, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Denpasar, Bali 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 Denpasar, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.