Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Palangkaraya

For one person, living is cheaper in Palangkaraya: $603 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $8,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Palangkaraya, Indonesia
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Palangkaraya
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$603
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Palangkaraya

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Palangkaraya actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Phuket vs $603 in Palangkaraya, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • Palangkaraya $603

A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Phuket vs $960 in Palangkaraya, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • Palangkaraya $960

A family of three spends $3,115 per month in Phuket vs $1,317 in Palangkaraya, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • Palangkaraya $1,317

Phuket costs about 114% more than Palangkaraya, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Palangkaraya are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 4% lower, Palangkaraya 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Palangkaraya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿148
$1.40 Rp 25.3K
213.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,090
$13.83 Rp 250.8K
133.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿294
$3.64 Rp 66.0K
139.01%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.9
$1.47 Rp 26.7K
85.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.39
$0.45 Rp 8,244
106.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.85
$0.18 Rp 3,255
177.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿85.4
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
11.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿122
$3.46 Rp 62.8K
4.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Palangkaraya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.7
$1.16 Rp 21.1K
50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.95
$1.05 Rp 19.1K
38.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.7
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
82.93%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿73.3
$1.40 Rp 25.5K
55.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿644
$7.04 Rp 127.7K
171.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿115
$2.21 Rp 40.1K
53.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿368
$6.41 Rp 116.3K
70.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿99.2
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
31.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$1.73 Rp 31.3K
-2.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿74.0
$1.55 Rp 28.1K
41.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.7
$0.93 Rp 16.9K
127.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿49.21
$1.22 Rp 22.2K
19.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿46.15
$1.88 Rp 34.0K
-27.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿36.30
$0.85 Rp 15.5K
27.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.41
$0.41 Rp 7,509
34.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿149
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
62.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿616
$20.79 Rp 377.1K
-12.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.8
$1.80 Rp 32.7K
-1.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿97.2
$2.87 Rp 52.1K
0.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Palangkaraya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.84
$0.25 Rp 4,563
480.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,852
$11.65 Rp 211.4K
371.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.53 Rp 9,653
184.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿26.18
$0.32 Rp 5,720
143.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿130
$2.79 Rp 50.6K
37.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿50.2
$0.65 Rp 11.7K
129.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿907.0K
$23.0K Rp 417.0M
16.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿888.9K
$32.2K Rp 583.5M
-18.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Palangkaraya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,300
$64.0 Rp 1.2M
52.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿381
$4.37 Rp 79.3K
158.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿580
$19.16 Rp 347.6K
-10.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Palangkaraya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,305
$5.53 Rp 100.2K
1135.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿368
$8.04 Rp 145.9K
35.82%
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿251
$2.69 Rp 48.8K
176.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Palangkaraya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.9K
$94.4 Rp 1.7M
461.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿633.7K
$7,979 Rp 144.7M
135.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Palangkaraya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,081
$42.88 Rp 777.9K
43.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿953
$28.02 Rp 508.3K
0.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,239
$73.8 Rp 1.3M
30.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,929
$69.8 Rp 1.3M
24.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Palangkaraya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.3K
$223 Rp 4.0M
223.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.2K
$146 Rp 2.7M
248.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.8K
$542 Rp 9.8M
259.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿47.1K
$361 Rp 6.5M
287.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿141.4K
$1,146 Rp 20.8M
265.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿111.3K
$780 Rp 14.2M
322.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Palangkaraya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
9.46
-41.12%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Palangkaraya: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
Palangkaraya
$146 71.3% $363
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
Palangkaraya
$187 30% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
Palangkaraya
$87 30.7% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
Palangkaraya
$97 21.3% $26
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
Palangkaraya
$61 49.4% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
Palangkaraya
$11 86.9% $72
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
Palangkaraya
$15 77.6% $51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $721 in Phuket versus $223 in Palangkaraya. 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 $32 in Phuket versus $14 in Palangkaraya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $187 – making Palangkaraya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇮🇩 Palangkaraya
🕒 Local time
19:50 7:50 PM
19:50 7:50 PM
Same time as Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
220,962
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.77 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,140 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,309 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Palangkaraya 2,060 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Palangkaraya

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Palangkaraya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Palangkaraya?
Phuket costs about 114% more than Palangkaraya, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Palangkaraya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Phuket and $905 in Palangkaraya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Palangkaraya?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Palangkaraya, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $223 there versus $721 in Phuket.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Palangkaraya?
Kindergarten costs $530 per month in Phuket and $94 in Palangkaraya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Palangkaraya?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Phuket or in Palangkaraya?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Palangkaraya, where all-in costs run around $603, than in Phuket at $1,294. In Palangkaraya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Palangkaraya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Palangkaraya is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 53% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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