Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Montego Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Montego Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $1,295 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,753 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $2,210 in Montego Bay, rent included.

Phuket is about 2% cheaper than Montego Bay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Phuket and Montego Bay are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Montego Bay 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$7.54 JMD 1,188

-40.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$50.2 JMD 7,898

-9.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$7.72 JMD 1,215

13.47%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$4.31 JMD 678

-31.09%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$1.32 JMD 209

-47.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$0.76 JMD 120

-48.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$2.46 JMD 388

2.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$3.07 JMD 484

22.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$2.47 JMD 390

-12.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$2.82 JMD 444

-35.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.60 JMD 252

36.25%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$3.46 JMD 544

-34.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$11.12 JMD 1,752

79.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$6.46 JMD 1,017

-43.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$7.69 JMD 1,211

76.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$3.35 JMD 528

-3.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$3.14 JMD 495

-47.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$2.74 JMD 431

-14.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$1.79 JMD 281

15.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$2.04 JMD 321

-24.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$1.13 JMD 177

29.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$1.84 JMD 290

-46.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$0.93 JMD 147

-48.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$8.80 JMD 1,386

-50.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$11.16 JMD 1,758

66.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$2.12 JMD 334

-12.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$3.15 JMD 496

-15.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$0.92 JMD 145

54.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$0.96 JMD 152

230.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$3.25 JMD 512

-68.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$6.13 JMD 966

126.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$1.23 JMD 194

8.94%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

-34.42%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

1.19%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$164 JMD 25.8K

-24.84%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$21.61 JMD 3,404

-36.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$48.06 JMD 7,569

-61.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

$37.26 JMD 5,869

62.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$7.57 JMD 1,192

17.17%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$62.7 JMD 9,870

997.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

$1,854 JMD 292.0K

750.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$26.57 JMD 4,185

123.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$19.57 JMD 3,083

77.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$66.5 JMD 10.5K

73.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

10.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

$265 JMD 41.7K

134.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$448 JMD 70.6K

-0.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

$662 JMD 104.3K

207.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$447 JMD 70.3K

235.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$552 JMD 87.0K

-10.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-33.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $265 in Montego Bay. 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 12% higher in Montego Bay, 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $50.0 in Montego Bay. Groceries tell a different story – $291 in Phuket vs $284 in Montego Bay – so Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Montego Bay costs about 2% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $1,943 in Montego Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket and $50.0 in Montego Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Montego Bay – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Montego Bay at $1,295. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montego Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,264 versus $1,295 in Montego Bay. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Montego Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.