Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tubli Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tubli

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,612 in Tubli.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $2,492 in Tubli.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $3,372 in Tubli.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 22% less than in Tubli, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Tubli is 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tubli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$6.72 BHD 2.53
-32.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$52.9 BHD 19.95
-11.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$7.45 BHD 2.81
13.69%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$2.62 BHD 0.99
15.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$0.78 BHD 0.29
-11.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$0.26 BHD 0.10
42.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$8.20 BHD 3.09
-69.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$10.52 BHD 3.97
-65.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tubli
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.63 BHD 0.61
33.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$1.08 BHD 0.41
75.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$2.29 BHD 0.86
-3.93%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$2.39 BHD 0.90
-7.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$8.84 BHD 3.33
126.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$7.77 BHD 2.93
-52.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$9.97 BHD 3.76
32.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$2.34 BHD 0.88
38.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$2.11 BHD 0.80
-19.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$1.74 BHD 0.66
37.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$1.21 BHD 0.46
71.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$0.88 BHD 0.33
80.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$1.03 BHD 0.39
43.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$1.51 BHD 0.57
-31.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.86 BHD 0.32
-39.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$6.48 BHD 2.44
-34.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$18.79 BHD 7.08
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$3.33 BHD 1.25
-47.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$3.26 BHD 1.23
-15.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tubli
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$1.56 BHD 0.59
-12.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$53.3 BHD 20.07
-78.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$4.55 BHD 1.72
-30.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$4.01 BHD 1.51
-74.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$26.67 BHD 10.05
-48.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$0.56 BHD 0.21
139.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$37.3K BHD 14.1K
-25.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$20.6K BHD 7,767
64.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tubli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$91.8 BHD 34.61
34.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$26.62 BHD 10.03
-49.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$37.86 BHD 14.27
-50.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tubli
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$160 BHD 60.4
-61.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$76.8 BHD 28.96
-77.55%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$10.64 BHD 4.01
-14.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tubli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$390 BHD 147
80.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$3,933 BHD 1,482
303.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tubli
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$46.79 BHD 17.64
27.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$63.9 BHD 24.09
-45.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$84.2 BHD 31.75
36.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$78.5 BHD 29.60
7.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tubli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$995 BHD 375
-37.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$655 BHD 247
-33.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$1,615 BHD 609
27.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$1,189 BHD 448
27.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tubli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
8.56
-37.73%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Tubli: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $995 in Tubli. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $53.0 in Tubli. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $260, with Tubli 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 Tubli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tubli cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 28% 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 $2,418 in Tubli 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 Tubli?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $995 in Tubli. 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 $390 in Tubli. 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 Tubli?
Shoppers in Tubli pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Tubli?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,612 in Tubli, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Tubli. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tubli more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tubli, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Tubli?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tubli 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 28% less than in Tubli. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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