Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Holetown

For one person, living is cheaper in Holetown: $363 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Holetown, Barbados
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Holetown
🇧🇧 Barbados
$363
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Holetown

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Holetown actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $363 in Holetown, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Holetown $363

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $809 in Holetown, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Holetown $809

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $1,255 in Holetown, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Holetown $1,255

Phuket costs about 252% more than Holetown, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Phuket and Holetown are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Holetown 73% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Holetown
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$12.54 BBD 25.08
-64.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$105 BBD 209
-68.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$13.21 BBD 26.43
-33.31%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$4.58 BBD 9.17
-38.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.42
$1.51 BBD 3.03
-42.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.66
$1.27 BBD 2.53
-61.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$1.78 BBD 3.56
43.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$3.08 BBD 6.15
19.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Holetown
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.32
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
-
-
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.54
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.97
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Holetown
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.00
$1.71 BBD 3.41
-15.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.34
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.78
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.8K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Holetown
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,252
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$30.39 BBD 60.8
-62.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Holetown
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,269
$79.6 BBD 159
-15.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$12.68 BBD 25.37
-40.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Holetown
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.1K
$6,305 BBD 12.6K
78.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Holetown
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,105
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,182
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,896
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Holetown
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Holetown
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Holetown: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Holetown
–
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Holetown
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Holetown
–
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Holetown
–
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Holetown
–
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Holetown
–
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Holetown
–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $105 in Holetown. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇧🇧 Holetown
🕒 Local time
15:00 3:00 PM
04:00 4:00 AM
11 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
1,500
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

BBD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Barbados Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 2 BBD (1 BBD = 0.5 USD). 1 EUR = 2.23 BBD (1 BBD = 0.448 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Holetown 16,640 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Holetown

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Holetown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Holetown compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,278 in Phuket, $363 in Holetown – Holetown comes out roughly 72% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Holetown?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $545 in Holetown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Holetown?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $363 in Holetown. That makes Holetown about 72% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $105 in Holetown. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Holetown, where all-in costs run around $363, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Holetown it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Holetown?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $363 in Holetown to $1,278 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Holetown safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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