Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tangerang

For one person, living is cheaper in Tangerang: $618 a month against $1,207 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Tangerang
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$618
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Tangerang

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 Tangerang actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $618 in Tangerang.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Tangerang $618

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $1,054 in Tangerang.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Tangerang $1,054

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $1,491 in Tangerang.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Tangerang $1,491

Living in Phuket is roughly 95% more expensive than in Tangerang, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Tangerang 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tangerang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
231.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$14.07 Rp 253.2K
130.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$3.39 Rp 61.0K
152.21%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$1.49 Rp 26.8K
82.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$0.43 Rp 7,825
118.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$0.24 Rp 4,295
104.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$2.55 Rp 45.9K
1.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$3.10 Rp 55.8K
23.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tangerang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
51.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$1.03 Rp 18.5K
38.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
84.34%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$1.41 Rp 25.4K
53.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$9.48 Rp 170.7K
102.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$2.89 Rp 52.1K
14.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$7.87 Rp 141.7K
41.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$2.25 Rp 40.4K
31.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
51.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$1.61 Rp 28.9K
42.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$0.93 Rp 16.8K
129.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$1.08 Rp 19.5K
41.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
-36.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$0.65 Rp 11.6K
72.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.44 Rp 7,887
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$2.81 Rp 50.6K
51.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$21.44 Rp 385.9K
-15.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$2.07 Rp 37.2K
-15.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$3.07 Rp 55.3K
-9.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tangerang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$0.29 Rp 5,256
665.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
$8.25 Rp 148.5K
167.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$0.49 Rp 8,897
493.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$0.52 Rp 9,306
94.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$3.13 Rp 56.3K
22.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$0.82 Rp 14.8K
81.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$21.5K Rp 386.3M
24.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$28.5K Rp 512.8M
-6.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tangerang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$65.0 Rp 1.2M
52.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$4.26 Rp 76.7K
164.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$19.07 Rp 343.2K
-8.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tangerang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$16.81 Rp 302.6K
211.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
$17.48 Rp 314.7K
-37.93%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$2.83 Rp 51.0K
167.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tangerang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$95.7 Rp 1.7M
483.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$8,065 Rp 145.2M
42.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tangerang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$38.75 Rp 697.5K
62.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$28.98 Rp 521.7K
-1.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
23.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$70.6 Rp 1.3M
24.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tangerang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$338 Rp 6.1M
115.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$135 Rp 2.4M
239.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$755 Rp 13.6M
177.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$472 Rp 8.5M
158.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$1,137 Rp 20.5M
204.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$563 Rp 10.1M
341.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tangerang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$277 Rp 5.0M
77.91%
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: October 13, 2026

Last update for Tangerang: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Tangerang
$135 70.6% $325
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Tangerang
$201 24.9% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Tangerang
$88 31% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Tangerang
$97 21.6% $27
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Tangerang
$61 49.9% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Tangerang
$22 66.7% $45
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Tangerang
$13 67.9% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $338 in Tangerang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 78% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $14.00 in Tangerang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $201 per month, with Tangerang cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇮🇩 Tangerang
🕒 Local time
18:36 6:36 PM
18:36 6:36 PM
Same time as Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
2,185,304
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Tangerang 1,810 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Tangerang

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 Tangerang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tangerang cheaper than Phuket?
Tangerang is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 95% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tangerang?
Average pay runs 78% higher in Phuket, 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 Tangerang?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $338 in Tangerang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $558 in Phuket versus $95.7 in Tangerang. 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 Tangerang?
Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Phuket. 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 Tangerang?
At $618 in Tangerang versus $1,207 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tangerang but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tangerang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tangerang more family-friendly?
For families, Tangerang 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 Tangerang?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tangerang 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 Tangerang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?