😐A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $725 in Le Bardo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,114 in Le Bardo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,502 in Le Bardo, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 70% more than Le Bardo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Le Bardo are more affordable than the global median – Phuket10% lower, Le Bardo47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Le Bardo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$3.46TND 10.02
27.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$21.94TND 63.6
47.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$5.29TND 15.35
68.81%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$1.07TND 3.10
171.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$0.65TND 1.88
35.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$0.26TND 0.75
84.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$1.69TND 4.90
39.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$2.35TND 6.83
58.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Le Bardo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$0.51TND 1.48
266.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$0.25TND 0.73
488.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$1.33TND 3.86
16.54%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$1.65TND 4.78
27.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$10.20TND 29.59
92.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$5.68TND 16.46
-39.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$14.14TND 41.02
-19.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$1.87TND 5.42
59.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$3.11TND 9.01
-45.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$1.12TND 3.26
97.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$0.75TND 2.18
188.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$0.87TND 2.52
74.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$0.83TND 2.40
61.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$0.54TND 1.57
109.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.34TND 0.99
61.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$3.80TND 11.03
12.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$6.72TND 19.49
184.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$1.29TND 3.74
37.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$1.10TND 3.19
152.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Le Bardo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$0.33TND 0.96
575.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$10.17TND 29.50
123.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$0.34TND 0.99
791.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$0.33TND 0.95
209.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$1.90TND 5.51
104.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$0.86TND 2.49
73.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$38.1KTND 110.5K
-30.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$38.0KTND 110.1K
-28.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Le Bardo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$65.4TND 190
56.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$9.54TND 27.68
18.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$20.61TND 59.8
-15.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Le Bardo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$42.66TND 124
22.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$14.29TND 41.43
-22.53%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$5.56TND 16.13
38.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Le Bardo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$99.1TND 287
465.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$2,853TND 8,274
303.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Le Bardo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$51.8TND 150
21.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$37.29TND 108
-20.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$111TND 321
-11.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$87.4TND 254
1.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Le Bardo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$254TND 735
191.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$153TND 443
216.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$407TND 1,180
417.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$257TND 746
376.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$977TND 2,833
270.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$644TND 1,868
304.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Le Bardo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$388TND 1,127
27.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
11
-49.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Le Bardo: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $254 in Le Bardo. 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 27% higher in Phuket, 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $22.00 in Le Bardo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $190 – making Le Bardo 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 Le Bardo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Le Bardo cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 70%, 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,088 in Le Bardo. 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 Le Bardo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Le Bardo?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Le Bardo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $22.00 in Le Bardo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Le Bardo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Le Bardo, where all-in costs run around $725, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Le Bardo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Le Bardo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Le Bardo – 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 Le Bardo?
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 Le Bardo. 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.