😐A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $629 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $956 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,283 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 101% more than Metro, Lampung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Metro, Lampung are more affordable than the global median – Phuket5% lower, Metro, Lampung53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$2.99Rp 54.0K
49.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$18.42Rp 332.5K
147.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$2.77Rp 50.0K
216.25%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$2.15Rp 38.9K
38.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$0.51Rp 9,149
35.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.26Rp 4,638
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$1.52Rp 27.5K
66.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$3.31Rp 59.7K
13.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.13Rp 20.4K
90.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$0.94Rp 17.0K
93.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.01Rp 18.2K
115.84%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$0.86Rp 15.6K
161.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$6.35Rp 114.6K
214.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$2.39Rp 43.1K
51.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$7.52Rp 135.7K
80.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$1.64Rp 29.7K
97.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$1.12Rp 20.3K
46.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$1.25Rp 22.5K
86.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$1.02Rp 18.4K
102.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.39Rp 25.1K
11.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$1.39Rp 25.1K
5.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$0.59Rp 10.6K
66.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.46Rp 8,298
4.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$2.09Rp 37.7K
108.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$21.43Rp 386.8K
-13.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.89Rp 34.2K
-1.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$3.06Rp 55.2K
-13.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Metro, Lampung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
$0.30Rp 5,330
373.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$9.81Rp 177.2K
17.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$0.52Rp 9,474
509.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$0.37Rp 6,698
178.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$3.16Rp 57.0K
339.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$0.77Rp 13.9K
74.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$30.5KRp 549.7M
-8.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$32.7KRp 590.5M
2.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$90.9Rp 1.6M
35.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$6.76Rp 122.0K
103.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$27.04Rp 488.1K
-32.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
$22.79Rp 411.4K
166.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
$6.32Rp 114.1K
171.52%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$3.00Rp 54.2K
195.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$93.5Rp 1.7M
635.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$9,539Rp 172.2M
65.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$27.71Rp 500.2K
114.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$14.31Rp 258.4K
142.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$22.26Rp 401.9K
417.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$41.90Rp 756.5K
99.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Metro, Lampung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$256Rp 4.6M
142.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$157Rp 2.8M
184.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$581Rp 10.5M
249.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$337Rp 6.1M
343.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$1,078Rp 19.5M
220.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
$682Rp 12.3M
271.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.59
-44.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Metro, Lampung: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $256 in Metro, Lampung. 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $18.00 in Metro, Lampung. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $180 – making Metro, Lampung 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 Metro, Lampung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Metro, Lampung cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 101%, 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 $1,896 per month in Phuket and $944 in Metro, Lampung. 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 Metro, Lampung, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $688 per month in Phuket and $93.5 in Metro, Lampung. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Metro, Lampung?
Groceries cost about 62% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Metro, Lampung?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Metro, Lampung, where all-in costs run around $629, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Metro, Lampung it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Metro, Lampung more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Metro, Lampung – 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 Metro, Lampung?
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 Metro, Lampung. 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.