😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $930 in Gracanica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,442 in Gracanica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,954 in Gracanica.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 34% more expensive than in 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
$4.55฿153
$7.22BAM 12.37
-36.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$36.08BAM 61.8
27.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$5.49BAM 9.41
61.02%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$1.69BAM 2.90
81.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$1.78BAM 3.05
-58.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$1.15BAM 1.98
-65.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$2.37BAM 4.06
2.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$2.05BAM 3.51
84.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.41BAM 2.41
60.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.38BAM 2.36
31.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$2.31BAM 3.95
-2.60%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$2.86BAM 4.90
-21.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$9.92BAM 16.98
96.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$7.27BAM 12.45
-49.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$13.20BAM 22.60
-1.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$1.23BAM 2.10
162.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.67BAM 2.86
-2.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$1.92BAM 3.29
23.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$1.75BAM 3.00
16.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$0.84BAM 1.44
82.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$0.68BAM 1.17
120.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$0.93BAM 1.59
5.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.95BAM 1.62
-45.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$3.45BAM 5.90
28.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$8.30BAM 14.22
120.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.21BAM 2.08
53.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$2.05BAM 3.52
30.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$1.85BAM 3.16
-23.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$35.82BAM 61.4
-67.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$1.80BAM 3.08
72.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$0.83BAM 1.42
25.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$10.51BAM 17.99
34.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.43BAM 2.45
-8.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$23.6KBAM 40.4K
17.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$26.1KBAM 44.7K
27.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$124BAM 212
-0.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$18.98BAM 32.51
-28.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$29.21BAM 50.0
-35.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$29.86BAM 51.2
102.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$10.81BAM 18.52
57.08%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$5.47BAM 9.37
65.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$150BAM 257
370.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$3,333BAM 5,709
374.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$71.2BAM 122
-17.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$34.44BAM 59.0
2.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$97.3BAM 167
18.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$120BAM 205
-30.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$254BAM 435
146.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$170BAM 292
161.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$362BAM 619
464.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$313BAM 536
376.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$2,554BAM 4,374
36.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$1,821BAM 3,118
41.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Gracanica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$585BAM 1,002
-14.54%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Gracanica: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $254 in Gracanica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gracanica pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $36.00 in Gracanica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $233 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 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Gracanica?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Gracanica. 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: $626 in Phuket versus $254 in Gracanica. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $150 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 in Gracanica?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Gracanica?
At $930 in Gracanica versus $1,250 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 34% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.