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 $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $1,314 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,787 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $2,261 in Montego Bay, rent included.

Phuket is about 4% cheaper than Montego Bay, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Phuket and Montego Bay are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Montego Bay 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$7.54 JMD 1,186

-39.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$50.3 JMD 7,905

-7.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$7.38 JMD 1,161

14.77%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$4.31 JMD 678

-29.70%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$1.33 JMD 209

-48.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.76 JMD 120

-51.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$2.43 JMD 382

2.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.18 JMD 500

15.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$2.53 JMD 397

-13.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$2.76 JMD 434

-31.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.63 JMD 257

34.97%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$3.56 JMD 559

-37.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$10.94 JMD 1,721

82.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$6.45 JMD 1,014

-43.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$7.56 JMD 1,189

75.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$3.42 JMD 537

-5.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$3.14 JMD 494

-45.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$2.71 JMD 427

-11.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.75 JMD 275

18.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.03 JMD 319

-21.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.13 JMD 178

30.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$1.91 JMD 301

-46.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.95 JMD 149

-45.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$9.03 JMD 1,420

-52.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$11.28 JMD 1,773

66.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$2.11 JMD 332

-16.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$3.16 JMD 497

-12.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.96 JMD 151

41.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$0.91 JMD 143

245.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$3.21 JMD 505

-67.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$6.40 JMD 1,006

115.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.29 JMD 203

3.88%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

-36.51%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

0.41%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$163 JMD 25.6K

-24.03%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$21.15 JMD 3,327

-36.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$47.83 JMD 7,522

-60.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$37.84 JMD 5,952

63.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$7.55 JMD 1,188

21.06%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$63.0 JMD 9,903

1015.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$1,913 JMD 300.9K

729.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$25.80 JMD 4,057

130.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$19.75 JMD 3,106

77.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$66.6 JMD 10.5K

73.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

11.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$266 JMD 41.8K

132.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$448 JMD 70.4K

-3.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$648 JMD 102.0K

217.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$442 JMD 69.6K

241.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$552 JMD 86.8K

-8.09%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $266 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 9% 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $50.0 in Montego Bay. Groceries tell a different story – $293 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 4% 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 $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,971 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 $47.00 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 $1,261, than in Montego Bay at $1,314. 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 $1,261 versus $1,314 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.