Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Purwokerto Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Purwokerto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $631 in Purwokerto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $960 in Purwokerto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,289 in Purwokerto.

Living in Phuket is roughly 94% more expensive than Purwokerto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Purwokerto 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Purwokerto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51 ฿147
$1.30 Rp 23.1K
246.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62 ฿1,515
$9.15 Rp 162.0K
409.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.49 ฿276
$3.41 Rp 60.4K
148.97%
Cappuccino
$3.08 ฿100
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
123.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.07
$0.36 Rp 6,358
88.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.75
$0.19 Rp 3,331
89.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿78.8
$1.74 Rp 30.9K
39.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿118
$3.64 Rp 64.4K
-0.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Purwokerto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ฿71.1
$1.23 Rp 21.8K
78.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿59.0
$1.08 Rp 19.1K
67.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ฿72.5
$0.81 Rp 14.3K
175.31%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿72.7
$1.52 Rp 26.9K
47.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.60 ฿637
$8.92 Rp 158.0K
119.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 ฿121
$3.12 Rp 55.4K
19.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.47 ฿438
$7.93 Rp 140.5K
69.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 ฿109
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
45.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿52.5
$1.34 Rp 23.7K
20.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.3
$1.70 Rp 30.1K
41.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿64.6
$1.60 Rp 28.4K
24.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.76
$1.47 Rp 26.1K
4.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ฿47.19
$2.57 Rp 45.5K
-43.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿32.96
$0.98 Rp 17.3K
3.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.73
$0.32 Rp 5,694
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿139
$2.49 Rp 44.1K
71.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.12 ฿621
$21.60 Rp 382.7K
-11.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿59.7
$2.05 Rp 36.4K
-10.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ฿89.1
$3.58 Rp 63.4K
-23.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Purwokerto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿46.06
$0.26 Rp 4,619
446.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.72 ฿381
$9.78 Rp 173.3K
19.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 ฿97.6
$0.72 Rp 12.7K
316.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 ฿34.00
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
38.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.90 ฿452
$2.47 Rp 43.8K
462.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ฿41.94
$0.64 Rp 11.3K
101.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ฿911.1K
$24.7K Rp 437.9M
13.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K ฿1.1M
$25.8K Rp 457.5M
29.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Purwokerto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,964
$43.92 Rp 778.0K
177.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿453
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
206.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87 ฿613
$22.43 Rp 397.3K
-15.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Purwokerto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 ฿1,992
$18.11 Rp 320.9K
238.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿547
$6.27 Rp 111.0K
168.58%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿289
$2.79 Rp 49.5K
218.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Purwokerto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$691 ฿22.5K
$93.7 Rp 1.7M
637.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K ฿525.2K
$7,626 Rp 135.1M
111.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Purwokerto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,878
$42.21 Rp 747.7K
36.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39 ฿1,150
$31.09 Rp 550.7K
13.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,685
$59.8 Rp 1.1M
89.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0 ฿2,698
$65.2 Rp 1.2M
27.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Purwokerto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 ฿19.7K
$260 Rp 4.6M
133.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.6K
$155 Rp 2.7M
188.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 ฿66.0K
$584 Rp 10.3M
247.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 ฿48.5K
$334 Rp 5.9M
346.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,585 ฿116.5K
$1,427 Rp 25.3M
151.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,585 ฿84.0K
$280 Rp 5.0M
821.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Purwokerto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ฿16.4K
$122 Rp 2.2M
315.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
9.15
-41.75%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Purwokerto: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $260 in Purwokerto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 315% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $9.00 in Purwokerto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $211 per month, with Purwokerto cheaper across the board.

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 Purwokerto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Purwokerto cheaper than Phuket?
Purwokerto is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 94% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Purwokerto?
Phuket pays 315% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Purwokerto?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $260 in Purwokerto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $93.7 in Purwokerto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Purwokerto?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Purwokerto?
At $631 in Purwokerto versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Purwokerto but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Purwokerto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Purwokerto more family-friendly?
For families, Purwokerto is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Purwokerto?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Purwokerto are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Purwokerto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 94% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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