Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tuzla

For one person, living is cheaper in Tuzla: $895 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Tuzla
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
$895
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Tuzla

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $895 in Tuzla.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Tuzla $895

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $1,333 in Tuzla.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Tuzla $1,333

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $1,771 in Tuzla.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Tuzla $1,771

Living in Phuket is roughly 43% more expensive than in Tuzla, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Tuzla 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tuzla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$5.04 BAM 8.84
-11.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$31.80 BAM 55.9
1.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$5.87 BAM 10.31
50.09%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$1.88 BAM 3.30
50.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$1.90 BAM 3.34
-54.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$1.19 BAM 2.10
-58.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$2.64 BAM 4.64
-3.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$2.13 BAM 3.74
72.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tuzla
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.16 BAM 2.04
43.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$0.94 BAM 1.65
55.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$2.06 BAM 3.61
-27.18%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$2.52 BAM 4.43
-17.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$7.55 BAM 13.25
152.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$7.25 BAM 12.73
-54.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$10.51 BAM 18.46
3.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$1.10 BAM 1.92
166.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$1.65 BAM 2.90
2.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.40 BAM 2.46
60.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$1.19 BAM 2.09
74.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$0.99 BAM 1.74
52.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$1.01 BAM 1.78
36.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$0.72 BAM 1.26
48.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$0.72 BAM 1.26
-27.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$3.92 BAM 6.88
7.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$3.91 BAM 6.86
380.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$0.78 BAM 1.37
133.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$0.89 BAM 1.57
219.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tuzla
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$0.89 BAM 1.57
62.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$50.7 BAM 89.1
11.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$1.68 BAM 2.95
79.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$0.55 BAM 0.96
85.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$5.59 BAM 9.82
-33.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$1.55 BAM 2.73
-5.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$29.5K BAM 51.7K
-9.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$21.0K BAM 36.8K
27.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tuzla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$136 BAM 238
-29.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$17.64 BAM 30.97
-36.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$26.09 BAM 45.81
-35.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tuzla
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$35.08 BAM 61.6
91.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$8.56 BAM 15.03
25.35%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$6.99 BAM 12.27
7.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tuzla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$195 BAM 342
144.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$2,334 BAM 4,098
382.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tuzla
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$59.3 BAM 104
5.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$33.11 BAM 58.1
-14.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$84.0 BAM 147
12.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$82.5 BAM 145
4.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tuzla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$255 BAM 448
180.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$195 BAM 342
152.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$508 BAM 892
279.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$275 BAM 482
420.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$2,439 BAM 4,284
71.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$1,686 BAM 2,961
80.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tuzla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$940 BAM 1,651
-46.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.33
28.64%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Tuzla: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Tuzla
$195 60.3% $296
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Tuzla
$187 29.9% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Tuzla
$179 44.2% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Tuzla
$116 4.4% $5.4
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Tuzla
$110 9.4% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Tuzla
$49 40.4% $33
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Tuzla
$59 16.8% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $255 in Tuzla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tuzla pays 87% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $32 in Tuzla. Groceries flip the comparison at $266 vs $187, with Tuzla cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇧🇦 Tuzla
🕒 Local time
05:11 5:11 AM
23:11 11:11 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
74,475
Exchange rates and currency converter

BAM, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1.76 BAM (1 BAM = 0.569 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BAM (1 BAM = 0.512 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Tuzla 8,580 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Tuzla

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 Tuzla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tuzla cheaper than Phuket?
Tuzla is about 30% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tuzla?
On paper, salaries run 47% lower in Phuket. 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 Tuzla?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $255 in Tuzla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $195 in Tuzla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Tuzla runs roughly 11% less than in Phuket. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Tuzla?
At $895 in Tuzla versus $1,278 in Phuket, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Tuzla but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tuzla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in Tuzla?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Tuzla?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tuzla are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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