Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sanur, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sanur, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,162 in Sanur, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $2,039 in Sanur, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,917 in Sanur, Bali.

Living in Phuket is roughly 9% more expensive than Sanur, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Sanur, Bali 14% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sanur, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$2.69 Rp 48.2K
69.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$25.49 Rp 456.6K
82.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
109.65%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
35.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$1.04 Rp 18.6K
-33.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$0.60 Rp 10.7K
-38.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$2.31 Rp 41.3K
7.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$3.10 Rp 55.6K
18.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sanur, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.58 Rp 28.3K
37.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$2.22 Rp 39.8K
-14.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.09 Rp 19.5K
101.83%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$2.13 Rp 38.1K
4.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$13.38 Rp 239.7K
49.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$3.76 Rp 67.3K
-2.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$10.85 Rp 194.3K
22.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
-2.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$1.40 Rp 25.2K
21.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
-5.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$2.02 Rp 36.2K
2.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$1.82 Rp 32.6K
-12.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$2.09 Rp 37.4K
-29.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$0.92 Rp 16.5K
11.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-25.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$2.86 Rp 51.2K
48.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$21.06 Rp 377.3K
-10.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$2.55 Rp 45.7K
-30.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$2.55 Rp 45.7K
8.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sanur, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$0.26 Rp 4,633
423.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$8.01 Rp 143.5K
41.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$0.43 Rp 7,725
630.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$0.43 Rp 7,736
141.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$5.97 Rp 107.0K
130.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
61.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$24.7K Rp 442.6M
12.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$31.1K Rp 557.8M
8.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sanur, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$76.9 Rp 1.4M
60.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$3.93 Rp 70.4K
244.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$22.65 Rp 405.8K
-17.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sanur, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$71.4 Rp 1.3M
-13.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$4.90 Rp 87.7K
252.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$2.97 Rp 53.2K
207.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sanur, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$277 Rp 5.0M
153.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$5,894 Rp 105.6M
169.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sanur, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$50.1 Rp 897.2K
18.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$34.57 Rp 619.4K
1.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
47.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$69.7 Rp 1.2M
20.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sanur, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$727 Rp 13.0M
-14.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$494 Rp 8.9M
-12.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$2,511 Rp 45.0M
-17.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$1,550 Rp 27.8M
-2.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$2,043 Rp 36.6M
78.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$1,699 Rp 30.4M
54.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sanur, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
13.28
-59.86%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Sanur, Bali: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $727 in Sanur, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Sanur, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $269 per month, with Sanur, Bali 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 Sanur, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sanur, Bali cheaper than Phuket?
Sanur, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $1,742 in Sanur, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Sanur, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $727 in Sanur, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $277 in Sanur, Bali. 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 Sanur, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Sanur, Bali?
At $1,162 in Sanur, Bali versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sanur, Bali but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sanur, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sanur, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Sanur, Bali 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 Sanur, Bali?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sanur, Bali 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 Sanur, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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