Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hamilton Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Hamilton

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $4,842 in Hamilton, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $9,251 in Hamilton, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $13.7K in Hamilton, rent included.

Phuket is about 74% cheaper than Hamilton, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Hamilton is 262% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$59.9 BMD 59.9

-92.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$177 BMD 177

-73.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$15.27 BMD 15.27

-42.11%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$6.40 BMD 6.40

-52.19%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$3.50 BMD 3.50

-79.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$2.98 BMD 2.98

-86.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$10.17 BMD 10.17

-76.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$8.41 BMD 8.41

-55.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$4.34 BMD 4.34

-47.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$9.00 BMD 9.00

-79.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$5.37 BMD 5.37

-58.10%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$7.57 BMD 7.57

-70.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$11.68 BMD 11.68

67.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$24.47 BMD 24.47

-85.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$31.87 BMD 31.87

-59.05%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$10.38 BMD 10.38

-68.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$6.27 BMD 6.27

-74.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$12.59 BMD 12.59

-81.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$11.30 BMD 11.30

-82.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$8.40 BMD 8.40

-81.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$4.98 BMD 4.98

-69.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$5.83 BMD 5.83

-83.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$3.20 BMD 3.20

-83.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$17.49 BMD 17.49

-74.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$24.59 BMD 24.59

-25.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$5.26 BMD 5.26

-64.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$4.63 BMD 4.63

-42.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$4.80 BMD 4.80

-70.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$70.1 BMD 70.1

-83.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$6.09 BMD 6.09

-48.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$3.43 BMD 3.43

-69.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$54.2 BMD 54.2

-73.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$2.37 BMD 2.37

-44.73%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$34.4K BMD 34.4K

-19.10%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$39.6K BMD 39.6K

-16.14%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$234 BMD 234

-47.67%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$121 BMD 121

-88.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$154 BMD 154

-87.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$185 BMD 185

-67.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

$32.99 BMD 32.99

-48.53%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$13.72 BMD 13.72

-33.89%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$1,339 BMD 1,339

-47.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$24.6K BMD 24.6K

-35.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$78.5 BMD 78.5

-25.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$61.1 BMD 61.1

-42.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$135 BMD 135

-14.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$130 BMD 130

-35.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$3,377 BMD 3,377

-81.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$2,260 BMD 2,260

-80.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$8,611 BMD 8,611

-76.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$7,542 BMD 7,542

-80.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

$14.6K BMD 14.6K

-76.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$9,325 BMD 9,325

-72.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$6,684 BMD 6,684

-92.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

7.22

-26.18%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $3,377 in Hamilton. 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 1237% higher in Hamilton, 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $177 in Hamilton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $816 – 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 Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,250 in Phuket, $4,842 in Hamilton – roughly 287% apart. Hamilton costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $7,263 in Hamilton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $177 in Hamilton. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,250 in Phuket and $4,842 in Hamilton. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Hamilton at $4,842. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hamilton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,250 in Phuket to $4,842 in Hamilton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hamilton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.