Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maglaj Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maglaj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $918 in Maglaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,417 in Maglaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,916 in Maglaj, rent included.

Phuket costs about 38% more than Maglaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Maglaj are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Maglaj 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$6.94 BAM 11.65

-32.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$34.95 BAM 58.7

29.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$5.68 BAM 9.54

48.42%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.74 BAM 2.93

68.39%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-62.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$1.16 BAM 1.94

-68.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.38 BAM 4.00

1.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.11 BAM 3.54

76.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.35 BAM 2.27

65.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.01 BAM 1.70

81.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.79 BAM 3.00

21.23%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.86 BAM 4.80

-22.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$7.52 BAM 12.63

162.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$7.11 BAM 11.94

-48.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$9.84 BAM 16.53

37.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.20 BAM 2.02

173.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.68 BAM 2.83

-4.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.75 BAM 2.93

37.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.81 BAM 3.04

14.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.17 BAM 1.96

30.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.20 BAM 2.02

23.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.98 BAM 1.64

1.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.90 BAM 1.52

-43.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$3.44 BAM 5.79

28.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$7.24 BAM 12.17

167.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.20 BAM 2.02

48.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.15 BAM 1.93

135.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-25.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$35.43 BAM 59.5

-67.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$1.75 BAM 2.95

72.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$1.16 BAM 1.95

-14.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$10.81 BAM 18.16

30.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.49 BAM 2.51

-8.72%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$23.9K BAM 40.2K

17.78%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$25.8K BAM 43.4K

27.36%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$123 BAM 206

-0.95%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$18.70 BAM 31.42

-27.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$28.79 BAM 48.36

-36.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$29.57 BAM 49.69

103.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$10.82 BAM 18.18

58.41%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$4.60 BAM 7.73

88.91%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$152 BAM 256

355.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$3,316 BAM 5,571

373.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$70.5 BAM 118

-15.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$35.67 BAM 59.9

-2.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$99.8 BAM 168

14.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$119 BAM 200

-30.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$257 BAM 432

138.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$169 BAM 285

157.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$370 BAM 622

465.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$314 BAM 527

381.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$2,591 BAM 4,354

44.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$1,813 BAM 3,046

44.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$772 BAM 1,297

-34.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

4.14

28.74%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Maglaj: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $257 in Maglaj. 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 52% higher in Maglaj, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $35.00 in Maglaj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $205 – making Maglaj 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 Maglaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $918 in Maglaj – roughly 38% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,377 in Maglaj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Maglaj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $35.00 in Maglaj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Maglaj, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Maglaj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $918 in Maglaj to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Maglaj. 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.