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 $990 in Maglaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,502 in Maglaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $2,014 in Maglaj, rent included.

Phuket costs about 28% more than Maglaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Maglaj are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Maglaj 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Maglaj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿153
$7.16 BAM 12.03
-34.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,060
$39.10 BAM 65.7
-17.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿286
$7.23 BAM 12.14
20.06%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.4
$1.69 BAM 2.83
71.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.78
$1.91 BAM 3.21
-56.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.10
$1.25 BAM 2.10
-60.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿81.7
$2.32 BAM 3.90
6.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$2.33 BAM 3.91
60.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Maglaj
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.0
$1.44 BAM 2.42
31.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.36
$1.00 BAM 1.67
41.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.4
$1.76 BAM 2.96
-7.95%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿73.8
$2.89 BAM 4.85
-22.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿653
$7.55 BAM 12.68
162.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿114
$7.30 BAM 12.25
-52.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿374
$10.02 BAM 16.82
13.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.4
$1.21 BAM 2.03
139.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿56.8
$1.74 BAM 2.93
-1.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿74.8
$1.82 BAM 3.05
24.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.2
$1.74 BAM 2.93
22.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.53
$1.17 BAM 1.97
25.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.73
$1.17 BAM 1.96
21.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.11
$0.92 BAM 1.55
19.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.68
$0.90 BAM 1.52
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$3.60 BAM 6.04
19.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿612
$7.25 BAM 12.17
156.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.3
$1.22 BAM 2.05
47.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿97.6
$1.16 BAM 1.95
156.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Maglaj
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿73.9
$1.37 BAM 2.30
64.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿773
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$1.83 BAM 3.08
69.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.42
$1.05 BAM 1.76
2.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿127
$10.57 BAM 17.76
-63.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿46.97
$1.47 BAM 2.47
-2.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿914.4K
$31.8K BAM 53.4K
-12.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿888.0K
$22.5K BAM 37.8K
19.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Maglaj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,449
$121 BAM 203
-13.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿375
$18.90 BAM 31.74
-39.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿577
$28.81 BAM 48.39
-39.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Maglaj
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,788
$33.96 BAM 57.0
60.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿377
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿256
$4.69 BAM 7.88
65.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Maglaj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$153 BAM 257
277.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿381.2K
$3,940 BAM 6,617
193.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Maglaj
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,094
$114 BAM 191
-44.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿958
$35.89 BAM 60.3
-18.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,167
$100 BAM 168
-3.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,962
$118 BAM 198
-23.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Maglaj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.1K
$358 BAM 601
104.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$259 BAM 434
93.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.0K
$531 BAM 892
300.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.2K
$382 BAM 642
227.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.3K
$2,506 BAM 4,208
41.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.3K
$1,807 BAM 3,035
45.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Maglaj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.7K
$780 BAM 1,310
-34.92%
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 Maglaj: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $358 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 54% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $39.00 in Maglaj. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Phuket vs $208 in Maglaj – so Maglaj 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 Maglaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Maglaj compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $990 in Maglaj – roughly 28% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Maglaj?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,485 in Maglaj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Maglaj?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $39.00 in Maglaj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Maglaj, where all-in costs run around $990, 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.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Maglaj?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $990 in Maglaj to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Maglaj safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Maglaj?
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.

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