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 $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $755 in Isa Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,783 in Isa Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $2,812 in Isa Town, rent included.

Phuket costs about 63% more than Isa Town, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Phuket and Isa Town are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Isa Town 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$7.78 BHD 2.93

-43.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$26.81 BHD 10.10

20.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$6.46 BHD 2.43

38.24%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$4.75 BHD 1.79

-38.95%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$0.83 BHD 0.31

6.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.26 BHD 0.10

84.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$6.50 BHD 2.45

-63.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.31 BHD 0.49

42.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$1.36 BHD 0.51

8.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$5.19 BHD 1.96

-70.13%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$3.19 BHD 1.20

-34.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$10.64 BHD 4.01

84.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$7.85 BHD 2.96

-56.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$21.52 BHD 8.11

-47.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$2.71 BHD 1.02

9.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$2.60 BHD 0.98

-35.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.73 BHD 1.03

-19.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$2.71 BHD 1.02

-20.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$2.69 BHD 1.02

-43.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$1.63 BHD 0.61

-17.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$0.55 BHD 0.21

105.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$1.08 BHD 0.41

-49.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

$1.04 BHD 0.39

114.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

$13.53 BHD 5.10

68.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$5.39 BHD 2.03

-43.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$0.77 BHD 0.29

93.51%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$13.4K BHD 5,045

101.93%

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

$102 ฿3,420

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

$11.33 ฿378

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$39.95 BHD 15.06

-56.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$106 BHD 39.86

-50.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$10.45 BHD 3.94

-26.41%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$8,075 BHD 3,043

42.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$39.99 BHD 15.07

57.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$13.45 BHD 5.07

119.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$78.6 BHD 29.61

24.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$107 BHD 40.21

-17.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$1,316 BHD 496

60.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$1,058 BHD 399

15.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$1,050 BHD 396

-53.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Isa Town: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 113% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $27.00 in Isa Town. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $276 in Isa Town – so Phuket wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 63%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,133 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 $1,232 in Phuket and $755 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 $32.00 in Phuket and $27.00 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 $755, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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.