Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Isa Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Isa Town

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $715 in Isa Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $1,718 in Isa Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $2,721 in Isa Town, rent included.

Phuket costs about 71% more than Isa Town, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Isa Town are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Isa Town 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

$8.12 BHD 3.06

-44.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

$26.13 BHD 9.85

78.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

$6.76 BHD 2.55

25.59%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

$4.71 BHD 1.78

-34.61%

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

$0.68 ฿22.07

$0.83 BHD 0.31

-18.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

$0.28 BHD 0.11

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

$6.70 BHD 2.53

-63.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

$1.95 BHD 0.73

12.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

$1.57 BHD 0.59

15.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

$3.80 BHD 1.43

-41.32%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

$2.55 BHD 0.96

-12.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

$13.15 BHD 4.96

49.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

$6.68 BHD 2.52

-44.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

$15.78 BHD 5.95

-14.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

$2.31 BHD 0.87

45.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

$2.18 BHD 0.82

-25.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

$2.19 BHD 0.82

10.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

$2.00 BHD 0.75

-0.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

$2.04 BHD 0.77

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

$1.48 BHD 0.56

-2.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

$0.96 BHD 0.36

5.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

$0.84 BHD 0.32

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

$1.05 BHD 0.40

35.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

$13.27 BHD 5.00

-11.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

$5.17 BHD 1.95

-41.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

$0.82 BHD 0.31

57.32%

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

$28.0K ฿911.1K

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$13.2K BHD 4,967

154.20%

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

$122 ฿3,964

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

$13.93 ฿453

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

$39.89 BHD 15.03

-52.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

$105 BHD 39.68

-41.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

$10.51 BHD 3.96

-15.41%

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

$691 ฿22.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

$7,911 BHD 2,982

104.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

$39.72 BHD 14.97

45.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

$13.10 BHD 4.94

170.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

$80.3 BHD 30.25

41.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

$106 BHD 40.02

-21.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

$1,322 BHD 498

53.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

$1,059 BHD 399

40.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

$1,059 BHD 399

-52.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Isa Town: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 110% higher in Isa Town, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $26.00 in Isa Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $247 – making Isa Town 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 Isa Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 71%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,835 per month in Phuket and $1,072 in Isa Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,223 in Phuket and $715 in Isa Town. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $26.00 in Isa Town. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isa Town, where all-in costs run around $715, than in Phuket at $1,223. In Isa Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isa Town – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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