Cost of Living Comparison Between Seminyak, Bali and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Seminyak, Bali and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,597 in Seminyak, Bali versus $1,253 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,750 in Seminyak, Bali versus $2,043 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,904 in Seminyak, Bali versus $2,833 in Phuket.

Living in Seminyak, Bali is roughly 27% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Seminyak, Bali is 16% above, Phuket is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seminyak, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.02 Rp 70.9K
$4.56 ฿150
-11.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.61 Rp 786.6K
$32.62 ฿1,072
36.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.40 Rp 112.8K
$8.90 ฿293
-28.09%
Cappuccino
$3.11 Rp 54.9K
$2.80 ฿92.2
11.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 Rp 34.5K
$0.88 ฿28.93
121.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 Rp 15.1K
$0.49 ฿16.08
75.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 Rp 57.0K
$2.39 ฿78.5
35.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02 Rp 88.6K
$3.71 ฿122
35.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seminyak, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 Rp 29.7K
$1.79 ฿58.7
-6.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.35 Rp 41.5K
$1.44 ฿47.38
63.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 20.8K
$1.58 ฿52.1
-25.32%
Eggs
$2.29 Rp 40.4K
$2.13 ฿69.9
7.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.75 Rp 330.7K
$19.92 ฿655
-5.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.20 Rp 74.1K
$3.43 ฿113
22.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.65 Rp 223.0K
$11.33 ฿372
11.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.87 Rp 68.2K
$2.95 ฿96.9
31.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 Rp 30.1K
$1.72 ฿56.6
-0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 Rp 43.6K
$2.32 ฿76.4
6.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 Rp 37.5K
$2.08 ฿68.4
1.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 Rp 34.2K
$1.47 ฿48.33
31.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 Rp 43.4K
$1.36 ฿44.64
80.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 18.6K
$1.10 ฿36.12
-4.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
$0.57 ฿18.89
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 Rp 43.0K
$4.27 ฿140
-42.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.45 Rp 431.1K
$18.42 ฿605
32.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 Rp 44.7K
$1.87 ฿61.5
35.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 50.7K
$2.92 ฿96.0
-1.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Seminyak, Bali
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,073
$2.22 ฿72.9
-86.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.74 Rp 171.8K
$22.90 ฿753
-57.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 Rp 9,939
$3.03 ฿99.6
-81.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 Rp 8,922
$1.07 ฿35.31
-52.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.56 Rp 45.2K
$3.93 ฿129
-34.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 Rp 16.7K
$1.49 ฿49.04
-36.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K Rp 492.7M
$27.1K ฿891.7K
3.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8K Rp 648.9M
$27.5K ฿902.3K
34.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seminyak, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.9 Rp 1.5M
$103 ฿3,379
-17.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.71 Rp 118.2K
$10.99 ฿361
-38.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.86 Rp 350.1K
$17.51 ฿576
13.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seminyak, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.6 Rp 1.1M
$53.5 ฿1,760
18.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.65 Rp 364.1K
$11.20 ฿368
84.38%
Cinema Ticket
$4.84 Rp 85.3K
$7.48 ฿246
-35.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seminyak, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$528 Rp 9.3M
$557 ฿18.3K
-5.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,331 Rp 111.6M
$11.9K ฿389.6K
-46.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seminyak, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.69 Rp 840.9K
$64.1 ฿2,106
-25.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 669.8K
$29.07 ฿956
30.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
$96.0 ฿3,154
-12.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.6 Rp 1.5M
$90.3 ฿2,970
-5.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seminyak, Bali
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,410 Rp 24.9M
$730 ฿24.0K
93.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$866 Rp 15.3M
$500 ฿16.4K
73.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,508 Rp 79.5M
$2,090 ฿68.7K
115.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,181 Rp 38.5M
$1,209 ฿39.7K
80.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,507 Rp 61.8M
$3,596 ฿118.2K
-2.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,862 Rp 50.5M
$2,512 ฿82.6K
13.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seminyak, Bali
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$503 ฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.57
147.40%

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

Last update for Seminyak, Bali: August 29, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,410 in Seminyak, Bali and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Seminyak, Bali vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $273 per month, with Phuket 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
Seminyak, Bali vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Seminyak, Bali?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,395 in Seminyak, Bali and $1,880 in Phuket 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 Seminyak, Bali and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,410 in Seminyak, Bali versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $528 in Seminyak, Bali versus $557 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Seminyak, Bali and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% 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 Seminyak, Bali or in Phuket?
At $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,597 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 Seminyak, Bali or Phuket 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, Seminyak, Bali or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Seminyak, Bali and Phuket 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 27% 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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