Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mostar Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mostar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,243 per month in Phuket vs $951 in Mostar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,023 per month in Phuket vs $1,429 in Mostar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,803 per month in Phuket vs $1,907 in Mostar, rent included.

Phuket costs about 31% more than Mostar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Mostar are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Mostar 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Mostar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37 ฿147
$7.03 BAM 12.20
-37.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.87 ฿1,103
$29.00 BAM 50.4
13.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.39 ฿282
$5.87 BAM 10.19
42.93%
Cappuccino
$2.73 ฿91.8
$1.73 BAM 3.00
57.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.59
$1.84 BAM 3.19
-52.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.92
$1.26 BAM 2.18
-62.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 ฿79.1
$2.40 BAM 4.16
-1.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿124
$2.22 BAM 3.85
67.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mostar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 ฿61.5
$1.15 BAM 1.99
59.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.58
$0.98 BAM 1.70
47.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 ฿52.9
$2.02 BAM 3.51
-21.78%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.4
$2.70 BAM 4.68
-22.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.37 ฿650
$8.03 BAM 13.94
141.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿115
$7.31 BAM 12.70
-53.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.96 ฿368
$10.68 BAM 18.54
2.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 ฿101
$1.11 BAM 1.92
170.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.9
$1.62 BAM 2.81
1.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿74.1
$1.37 BAM 2.38
61.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.2
$1.23 BAM 2.13
72.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿49.34
$0.84 BAM 1.46
75.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.32 ฿44.37
$0.67 BAM 1.17
97.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.93
$0.79 BAM 1.38
35.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.61
$0.67 BAM 1.17
-22.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ฿147
$4.02 BAM 6.98
8.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.59 ฿624
$4.03 BAM 6.99
361.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 ฿58.6
$0.74 BAM 1.28
136.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 ฿95.8
$0.90 BAM 1.56
217.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Mostar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.18 BAM 2.05
91.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.98 ฿771
$33.39 BAM 58.0
-31.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 ฿98.7
$1.75 BAM 3.04
68.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 ฿35.84
$0.60 BAM 1.04
78.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿129
$10.36 BAM 18.00
-62.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 ฿48.96
$1.43 BAM 2.48
2.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿912.2K
$30.8K BAM 53.5K
-11.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K ฿893.5K
$22.2K BAM 38.5K
20.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mostar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,420
$123 BAM 213
-16.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.96 ฿368
$17.95 BAM 31.16
-38.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.89 ฿567
$26.22 BAM 45.54
-35.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mostar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.4 ฿1,758
$35.80 BAM 62.2
46.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.93 ฿367
$11.66 BAM 20.25
-6.26%
Cinema Ticket
$7.52 ฿252
$5.55 BAM 9.64
35.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mostar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$547 ฿18.3K
$148 BAM 257
269.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿379.5K
$13.7K BAM 23.7K
-17.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mostar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 ฿2,122
$59.0 BAM 103
7.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.23 ฿981
$33.87 BAM 58.8
-13.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.8 ฿3,282
$86.4 BAM 150
13.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.7 ฿2,909
$82.7 BAM 144
4.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mostar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.2K
$429 BAM 745
67.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.0K
$258 BAM 449
84.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,081 ฿69.8K
$671 BAM 1,165
210.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,194 ฿40.1K
$461 BAM 801
159.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,577 ฿120.0K
$2,370 BAM 4,116
50.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,541 ฿85.3K
$1,589 BAM 2,760
59.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mostar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$489 ฿16.4K
$854 BAM 1,483
-42.74%
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 28, 2026

Last update for Mostar: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $721 in Phuket versus $429 in Mostar. 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 75% higher in Mostar, 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 $33.00 in Phuket versus $29.00 in Mostar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $188 – making Mostar 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 Mostar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Mostar compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,243 in Phuket, $951 in Mostar – roughly 31% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Mostar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,865 per month in Phuket and $1,426 in Mostar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Mostar?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mostar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Mostar?
Kindergarten costs $547 per month in Phuket and $148 in Mostar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
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.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mostar, where all-in costs run around $951, than in Phuket at $1,243. In Mostar 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 Mostar?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $951 in Mostar to $1,243 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Mostar 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 Mostar?
If budget matters most, go with Mostar. 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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