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: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,669 in Seminyak, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,992 in Seminyak, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $4,316 in Seminyak, Bali.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 25% less than in Seminyak, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Seminyak, Bali is 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
12.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$37.64 Rp 676.4K
22.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$5.79 Rp 104.0K
52.68%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$3.19 Rp 57.3K
-4.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-52.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$0.82 Rp 14.8K
-51.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$3.34 Rp 60.1K
-27.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$4.51 Rp 81.1K
-16.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.90 Rp 34.1K
18.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$2.67 Rp 48.0K
-32.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.26 Rp 22.6K
78.57%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$2.47 Rp 44.4K
-8.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$15.58 Rp 280.0K
25.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$4.53 Rp 81.5K
-19.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$12.71 Rp 228.5K
2.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
-16.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.68 Rp 30.1K
-3.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$2.93 Rp 52.7K
-18.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$2.42 Rp 43.5K
-16.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$2.04 Rp 36.6K
-25.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
-34.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$1.12 Rp 20.1K
-12.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
-35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$3.44 Rp 61.8K
29.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$24.38 Rp 438.2K
-24.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$3.01 Rp 54.0K
-38.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
-10.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
$0.31 Rp 5,566
354.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
$9.48 Rp 170.3K
23.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$0.53 Rp 9,459
486.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$0.49 Rp 8,737
112.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
$7.26 Rp 130.5K
94.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$0.98 Rp 17.6K
33.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$29.5K Rp 530.6M
-5.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$37.2K Rp 668.3M
-10.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,118
$83.3 Rp 1.5M
47.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$4.17 Rp 75.0K
225.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$24.93 Rp 448.0K
-24.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
$109 Rp 2.0M
-44.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
$7.18 Rp 129.1K
136.49%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$4.44 Rp 79.8K
104.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$324 Rp 5.8M
117.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
$7,137 Rp 128.3M
121.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
$57.3 Rp 1.0M
2.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$40.35 Rp 725.2K
-12.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$93.3 Rp 1.7M
23.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$82.6 Rp 1.5M
1.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
$1,278 Rp 23.0M
-51.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$861 Rp 15.5M
-48.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
$4,247 Rp 76.3M
-51.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$2,640 Rp 47.4M
-43.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
$3,510 Rp 63.1M
-0.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$2,874 Rp 51.6M
-10.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Seminyak, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
-
-
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Seminyak, Bali: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $1,278 in Seminyak, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $38.00 in Seminyak, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $316, with Phuket cheaper for home cooking.

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, Sport & Entertainment. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,875 in Phuket and $2,503 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: $626 in Phuket versus $1,278 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 $706 in Phuket versus $324 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 9% 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 $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,669 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 33% 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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