😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $934 in Gracanica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,463 in Gracanica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,993 in Gracanica.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 35% more expensive than Gracanica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Gracanica30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$6.89BAM 11.61
-31.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,483
$34.95BAM 58.9
29.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿276
$5.50BAM 9.26
53.27%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.7
$1.68BAM 2.83
74.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.42
$1.84BAM 3.10
-62.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.00
$1.19BAM 2.01
-68.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.7
$2.42BAM 4.08
-0.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.09BAM 3.52
77.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.0
$1.41BAM 2.37
58.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.9
$1.33BAM 2.24
37.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.9
$2.38BAM 4.01
-8.82%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.4
$2.89BAM 4.86
-23.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$10.25BAM 17.27
92.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$7.23BAM 12.18
-49.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$13.50BAM 22.74
0.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$1.24BAM 2.09
164.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.7
$1.66BAM 2.80
-3.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.7
$1.93BAM 3.25
24.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$1.72BAM 2.90
20.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.97
$0.80BAM 1.34
91.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.41
$0.74BAM 1.24
100.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.32
$0.92BAM 1.55
7.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.68
$1.02BAM 1.72
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$3.51BAM 5.91
25.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿634
$8.17BAM 13.77
137.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.26BAM 2.12
41.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.7
$2.07BAM 3.48
30.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.83
$1.79BAM 3.01
-23.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$35.51BAM 59.8
-67.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.7
$1.81BAM 3.04
66.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.51
$0.78BAM 1.32
26.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$10.78BAM 18.16
30.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.55
$1.50BAM 2.52
-9.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.9K
$23.9KBAM 40.3K
17.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$26.8KBAM 45.1K
22.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,978
$124BAM 208
-1.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$18.84BAM 31.75
-27.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿599
$28.45BAM 47.93
-35.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,969
$28.92BAM 48.72
108.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$11.03BAM 18.58
55.39%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$5.71BAM 9.63
52.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.7K
$151BAM 254
360.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.8K
$3,279BAM 5,525
378.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,946
$71.2BAM 120
-16.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,137
$35.37BAM 59.6
-1.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,746
$97.3BAM 164
17.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,723
$119BAM 201
-30.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$260BAM 438
135.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$171BAM 288
155.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.5K
$357BAM 602
486.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$314BAM 529
381.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.6K
$2,754BAM 4,640
36.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.5K
$2,004BAM 3,376
30.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$600BAM 1,011
-15.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.14
28.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Gracanica: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $260 in Gracanica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gracanica pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Gracanica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $235 per month, with Gracanica 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 Gracanica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gracanica cheaper than Phuket?
Gracanica is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Gracanica?
On paper, Gracanica earns 18% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Gracanica?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $260 in Gracanica. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $151 in Gracanica. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Gracanica?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Gracanica?
At $934 in Gracanica versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gracanica but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Gracanica the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Gracanica more family-friendly?
For families, Gracanica 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.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Gracanica?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Gracanica are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gracanica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.