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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,597 in Seminyak, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $2,750 in Seminyak, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $3,904 in Seminyak, Bali.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 22% less than in Seminyak, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 9% below, Seminyak, Bali is 16% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿150
$4.02 Rp 70.9K
13.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62 ฿1,072
$44.61 Rp 786.6K
-26.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.90 ฿293
$6.40 Rp 112.8K
39.06%
Cappuccino
$2.80 ฿92.2
$3.11 Rp 54.9K
-9.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿28.93
$1.95 Rp 34.5K
-54.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.08
$0.86 Rp 15.1K
-43.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 ฿78.5
$3.23 Rp 57.0K
-26.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿122
$5.02 Rp 88.6K
-26.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ฿58.7
$1.68 Rp 29.7K
6.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 ฿47.38
$2.35 Rp 41.5K
-38.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 ฿52.1
$1.18 Rp 20.8K
33.90%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿69.9
$2.29 Rp 40.4K
-6.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.92 ฿655
$18.75 Rp 330.7K
6.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.43 ฿113
$4.20 Rp 74.1K
-18.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.33 ฿372
$12.65 Rp 223.0K
-10.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿96.9
$3.87 Rp 68.2K
-23.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿56.6
$1.71 Rp 30.1K
0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 ฿76.4
$2.47 Rp 43.6K
-6.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.4
$2.12 Rp 37.5K
-1.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.33
$1.94 Rp 34.2K
-24.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿44.64
$2.46 Rp 43.4K
-44.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.12
$1.05 Rp 18.6K
4.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 ฿18.89
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿140
$2.44 Rp 43.0K
75.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.42 ฿605
$24.45 Rp 431.1K
-24.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 ฿61.5
$2.54 Rp 44.7K
-26.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ฿96.0
$2.88 Rp 50.7K
1.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿72.9
$0.29 Rp 5,073
665.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.90 ฿753
$9.74 Rp 171.8K
135.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿99.6
$0.56 Rp 9,939
441.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 ฿35.31
$0.51 Rp 8,922
109.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.93 ฿129
$2.56 Rp 45.2K
53.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.04
$0.95 Rp 16.7K
56.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K ฿891.7K
$27.9K Rp 492.7M
-2.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ฿902.3K
$36.8K Rp 648.9M
-25.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 ฿3,379
$84.9 Rp 1.5M
21.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99 ฿361
$6.71 Rp 118.2K
63.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51 ฿576
$19.86 Rp 350.1K
-11.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.5 ฿1,760
$63.6 Rp 1.1M
-15.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20 ฿368
$20.65 Rp 364.1K
-45.76%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48 ฿246
$4.84 Rp 85.3K
54.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$557 ฿18.3K
$528 Rp 9.3M
5.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K ฿389.6K
$6,331 Rp 111.6M
87.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1 ฿2,106
$47.69 Rp 840.9K
34.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07 ฿956
$37.98 Rp 669.8K
-23.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,154
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
14.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ฿2,970
$85.6 Rp 1.5M
5.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$730 ฿24.0K
$1,410 Rp 24.9M
-48.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$500 ฿16.4K
$866 Rp 15.3M
-42.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 ฿68.7K
$4,508 Rp 79.5M
-53.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,209 ฿39.7K
$2,181 Rp 38.5M
-44.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,596 ฿118.2K
$3,507 Rp 61.8M
2.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,512 ฿82.6K
$2,862 Rp 50.5M
-12.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
13.78
-59.58%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Seminyak, Bali: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $1,410 in Seminyak, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $45.00 in Seminyak, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $309 per month, with Phuket 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 Seminyak, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seminyak, Bali cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,880 in Phuket and $2,395 in Seminyak, 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 Seminyak, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Phuket versus $1,410 in Seminyak, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $557 in Phuket versus $528 in Seminyak, 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 in Seminyak, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Seminyak, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Seminyak, Bali?
At $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,597 in Seminyak, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Seminyak, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Seminyak, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seminyak, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Seminyak, Bali?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Seminyak, 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Seminyak, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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