😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $872 in Trebinje.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $1,384 in Trebinje.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $1,897 in Trebinje.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 44% more expensive than in Trebinje, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket9% lower, Trebinje37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Trebinje
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$9.53BAM 16.02
-52.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,073
$32.36BAM 54.4
0.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$11.15BAM 18.75
-20.18%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$1.24BAM 2.09
125.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.94
$1.96BAM 3.29
-55.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$1.37BAM 2.30
-64.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$2.38BAM 4.00
0.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$2.31BAM 3.89
60.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Trebinje
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.8
$1.17BAM 1.97
52.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.40
$1.10BAM 1.86
30.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$1.64BAM 2.76
-3.66%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$2.51BAM 4.22
-15.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$10.00BAM 16.81
99.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$6.90BAM 11.61
-50.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$11.82BAM 19.86
-4.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿97.0
$1.33BAM 2.23
121.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$1.67BAM 2.80
2.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.5
$1.31BAM 2.19
77.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$1.81BAM 3.05
14.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.34
$1.00BAM 1.69
47.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.65
$1.30BAM 2.18
4.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.13
$0.92BAM 1.55
19.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$0.59BAM 0.99
-3.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$3.75BAM 6.31
13.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿606
$6.09BAM 10.24
202.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
$0.66BAM 1.11
183.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.1
$1.35BAM 2.27
116.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Trebinje
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿73.0
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$1.17BAM 1.97
158.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.32
$0.58BAM 0.97
84.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$18.10BAM 30.43
-78.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.06
$1.61BAM 2.70
-7.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿892.0K
$31.8KBAM 53.4K
-14.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.6K
$22.3KBAM 37.5K
23.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Trebinje
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,380
$89.0BAM 150
15.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$16.98BAM 28.54
-35.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$27.25BAM 45.81
-35.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Trebinje
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$33.54BAM 56.4
59.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
$14.66BAM 24.65
-23.60%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$3.06BAM 5.14
144.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Trebinje
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$161BAM 270
246.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.7K
$3,765BAM 6,329
214.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Trebinje
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,107
$88.0BAM 148
-27.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$37.32BAM 62.7
-22.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,155
$97.5BAM 164
-1.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$102BAM 171
-11.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Trebinje
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$302BAM 507
142.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$201BAM 338
148.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
$538BAM 905
288.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.8K
$369BAM 620
227.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
$2,527BAM 4,248
42.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
$1,852BAM 3,114
35.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Trebinje
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.6K
$883BAM 1,484
-42.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
4.44
25.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Trebinje: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $302 in Trebinje. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Trebinje pays 75% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $32.00 in Trebinje for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $205 per month, with Trebinje 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 Trebinje: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Trebinje cheaper than Phuket?
Trebinje is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Trebinje?
On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Trebinje. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Trebinje?
Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Phuket versus $302 in Trebinje. 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 $161 in Trebinje. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Trebinje?
Dining out is cheaper in Trebinje – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $33.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Trebinje?
At $872 in Trebinje versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Trebinje but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Trebinje the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Trebinje more family-friendly?
For families, Trebinje 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 Trebinje?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Trebinje 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 Trebinje gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.