Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between South Tangerang and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in South Tangerang: $654 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

South Tangerang, Indonesia
Phuket, Thailand
South Tangerang
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$654
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in South Tangerang and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in South Tangerang and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $654 in South Tangerang versus $1,278 in Phuket.

  • South Tangerang $654
  • Phuket $1,278

Estimated couple costs with rent: $997 in South Tangerang versus $2,216 in Phuket.

  • South Tangerang $997
  • Phuket $2,216

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,341 in South Tangerang versus $3,154 in Phuket.

  • South Tangerang $1,341
  • Phuket $3,154

Living in South Tangerang costs roughly 49% less than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: South Tangerang 52% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.69 Rp 30.6K
$4.47 ฿151
-62.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.56 Rp 245.8K
$32.41 ฿1,093
-58.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.38 Rp 61.3K
$8.81 ฿297
-61.63%
Cappuccino
$1.53 Rp 27.7K
$2.83 ฿95.4
-45.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 8,136
$0.87 ฿29.41
-48.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 Rp 4,374
$0.49 ฿16.65
-51.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 Rp 45.8K
$2.56 ฿86.3
-1.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 Rp 56.2K
$3.68 ฿124
-15.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 Rp 21.1K
$1.66 ฿55.9
-29.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
$1.46 ฿49.31
-30.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 Rp 16.1K
$1.50 ฿50.5
-40.67%
Eggs
$1.72 Rp 31.1K
$2.09 ฿70.5
-17.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.98 Rp 126.4K
$19.07 ฿643
-63.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.99 Rp 54.2K
$3.30 ฿111
-9.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.00 Rp 144.9K
$10.91 ฿368
-26.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 Rp 49.8K
$2.93 ฿98.9
-6.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$1.69 ฿57.0
-29.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.9K
$2.25 ฿75.8
-14.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.8K
$2.08 ฿70.0
-42.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 Rp 24.9K
$1.51 ฿51.0
-9.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 Rp 36.8K
$1.38 ฿46.52
47.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 Rp 15.4K
$1.07 ฿35.96
-20.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 8,467
$0.52 ฿17.51
-9.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.62 Rp 47.5K
$4.20 ฿142
-37.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.04 Rp 381.3K
$18.79 ฿634
11.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 Rp 34.1K
$1.82 ฿61.5
3.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 Rp 56.1K
$2.84 ฿95.8
9.15%
🚌 Getting Around
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 Rp 3,639
$1.45 ฿48.98
-86.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.31 Rp 295.5K
$56.7 ฿1,912
-71.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 Rp 9,662
$3.02 ฿102
-82.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 Rp 5,775
$1.02 ฿34.33
-68.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.20 Rp 39.8K
$3.69 ฿125
-40.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 Rp 16.5K
$1.47 ฿49.76
-38.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K Rp 399.7M
$26.8K ฿903.4K
-17.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K Rp 586.1M
$26.7K ฿900.5K
21.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.5 Rp 951.7K
$96.4 ฿3,251
-45.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.19 Rp 112.1K
$11.26 ฿380
-45.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.22 Rp 348.3K
$16.85 ฿568
14.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.57 Rp 463.4K
$67.2 ฿2,268
-61.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.08 Rp 164.5K
$10.73 ฿362
-15.38%
Cinema Ticket
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
$7.50 ฿253
-63.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$116 Rp 2.1M
$476 ฿16.1K
-75.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,091 Rp 146.6M
$11.3K ฿380.0K
-28.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.89 Rp 704.6K
$62.4 ฿2,104
-37.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.19 Rp 510.7K
$28.41 ฿958
-0.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.0 Rp 1.3M
$94.3 ฿3,181
-24.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 Rp 1.3M
$85.8 ฿2,895
-17.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$208 Rp 3.8M
$716 ฿24.2K
-70.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$491 ฿16.6K
-66.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$373 Rp 6.8M
$1,927 ฿65.0K
-80.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$307 Rp 5.6M
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-78.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,143 Rp 20.7M
$4,175 ฿140.9K
-72.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$927 Rp 16.8M
$3,045 ฿102.7K
-69.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$437 Rp 7.9M
$502 ฿16.9K
-12.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.46
5.57
69.84%

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

Last update for South Tangerang: October 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
South Tangerang
$202
Phuket
$266 32% $65
Accommodation & Living
South Tangerang
$166
Phuket
$491 195% $325
Clothing & Footwear
South Tangerang
$94
Phuket
$122 29.8% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Tangerang
$78
Phuket
$124 59.7% $47
Eating Out
South Tangerang
$64
Phuket
$122 91.2% $58
Sport & Entertainment
South Tangerang
$31
Phuket
$82 165% $51
Getting Around
South Tangerang
$19
Phuket
$71 267% $51

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $208 in South Tangerang and $716 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 15% 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: $14 in South Tangerang vs $32 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $266 per month, with South Tangerang cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 South Tangerang
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
11:21 11:21 AM
11:21 11:21 AM
Same time as South Tangerang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,290,322
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 18,120 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,232 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • South Tangerang Phuket 1,830 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • South Tangerang
  • Phuket

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
South Tangerang vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Tangerang cheaper than Phuket?
South Tangerang is about 49% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: South Tangerang or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 13% lower in South Tangerang. 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 South Tangerang and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $208 in South Tangerang versus $716 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $116 in South Tangerang versus $476 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 South Tangerang and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in South Tangerang or in Phuket?
At $654 in South Tangerang versus $1,278 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in South Tangerang but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes South Tangerang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in South Tangerang or in Phuket?
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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find South Tangerang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

South Tangerang vs other spots: cost of living compared

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