Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kakanj Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kakanj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $982 in Kakanj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,453 in Kakanj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $1,924 in Kakanj, rent included.

Phuket costs about 29% more than Kakanj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Kakanj are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Kakanj 29% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kakanj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿153
$6.95 BAM 11.67
-32.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,060
$38.93 BAM 65.4
-17.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿286
$7.09 BAM 11.90
22.43%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.4
$1.70 BAM 2.86
70.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.78
$1.96 BAM 3.29
-57.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.10
$1.29 BAM 2.17
-62.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿81.7
$2.39 BAM 4.01
3.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$2.42 BAM 4.07
54.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kakanj
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.0
$1.24 BAM 2.08
52.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.36
$1.13 BAM 1.90
24.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.4
$2.13 BAM 3.58
-23.94%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿73.8
$3.00 BAM 5.04
-25.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿653
$9.75 BAM 16.37
103.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿114
$7.60 BAM 12.77
-54.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿374
$13.41 BAM 22.52
-15.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.4
$1.16 BAM 1.94
150.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿56.8
$1.65 BAM 2.77
4.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿74.8
$1.41 BAM 2.36
60.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.2
$1.75 BAM 2.95
21.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.53
$1.01 BAM 1.70
45.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.73
$1.06 BAM 1.78
33.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.11
$1.01 BAM 1.69
8.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.68
$0.76 BAM 1.28
-21.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$3.94 BAM 6.62
9.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿612
$7.92 BAM 13.30
134.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.3
$0.91 BAM 1.54
97.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿97.6
$1.35 BAM 2.27
120.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kakanj
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿73.9
$1.31 BAM 2.19
71.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿773
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$1.79 BAM 3.01
73.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.42
$0.57 BAM 0.96
89.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿127
$10.83 BAM 18.19
-64.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿46.97
$1.53 BAM 2.57
-6.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿914.4K
$32.0K BAM 53.8K
-13.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿888.0K
$22.4K BAM 37.6K
20.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kakanj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,449
$123 BAM 206
-14.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿375
$16.85 BAM 28.30
-32.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿577
$27.72 BAM 46.56
-36.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kakanj
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,788
$34.49 BAM 57.9
57.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿377
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿256
$5.57 BAM 9.36
39.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kakanj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$159 BAM 266
263.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿381.2K
$3,988 BAM 6,698
190.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kakanj
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,094
$60.9 BAM 102
4.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿958
$33.53 BAM 56.3
-13.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,167
$90.4 BAM 152
6.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,962
$103 BAM 174
-12.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kakanj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.1K
$349 BAM 586
110.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$261 BAM 438
91.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.0K
$533 BAM 895
298.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.2K
$381 BAM 641
228.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.3K
$2,576 BAM 4,327
37.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.3K
$1,846 BAM 3,100
42.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kakanj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.3
29.53%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kakanj: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $349 in Kakanj. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $39.00 in Kakanj. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Phuket vs $223 in Kakanj – so Kakanj 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 Kakanj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kakanj cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,473 in Kakanj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kakanj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Kakanj?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $982 in Kakanj. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $576 per month in Phuket and $159 in Kakanj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Kakanj?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kakanj, where all-in costs run around $982, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Kakanj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Kakanj more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kakanj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Kakanj?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kakanj. 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.

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