Cost of Living Comparison Between South Tangerang and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between South Tangerang and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $773 in South Tangerang versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,141 in South Tangerang versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,510 in South Tangerang versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in South Tangerang costs roughly 39% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: South Tangerang 42% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.53 Rp 45.1K
$4.70 ฿153
-46.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.39 Rp 328.4K
$45.37 ฿1,482
-59.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.44 Rp 61.5K
$8.43 ฿275
-59.19%
Cappuccino
$1.97 Rp 35.2K
$2.93 ฿95.6
-32.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,669
$0.69 ฿22.40
-28.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Rp 5,060
$0.37 ฿11.99
-24.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$2.41 ฿78.6
15.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 Rp 75.4K
$3.72 ฿122
13.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 Rp 22.5K
$2.23 ฿72.9
-43.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.07 Rp 19.1K
$1.83 ฿59.8
-41.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 Rp 15.9K
$2.17 ฿70.8
-58.99%
Eggs
$1.62 Rp 28.8K
$2.21 ฿72.3
-26.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.32 Rp 112.8K
$19.74 ฿645
-67.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.25 Rp 58.0K
$3.63 ฿119
-10.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.04 Rp 143.5K
$13.53 ฿442
-40.58%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 Rp 52.6K
$3.28 ฿107
-10.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
$1.61 ฿52.6
-6.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 Rp 37.1K
$2.41 ฿78.6
-13.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$2.08 ฿68.1
-25.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.65 Rp 29.4K
$1.53 ฿49.93
7.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.61 Rp 46.6K
$1.48 ฿48.36
76.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 Rp 16.1K
$0.99 ฿32.29
-9.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 7,473
$0.51 ฿16.67
-17.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$4.41 ฿144
-42.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.45 Rp 383.0K
$19.38 ฿633
10.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 Rp 39.0K
$1.78 ฿58.1
22.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 Rp 55.8K
$2.71 ฿88.6
15.50%
🚌 Getting Around
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,116
$1.37 ฿44.79
-83.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.68 Rp 333.7K
$11.39 ฿372
64.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
$3.02 ฿98.6
-81.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 6,170
$0.99 ฿32.48
-64.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 Rp 45.9K
$14.10 ฿461
-81.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.4K
$1.36 ฿44.51
-40.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1K Rp 448.2M
$28.2K ฿921.1K
-11.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K Rp 588.6M
$32.9K ฿1.1M
0.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.5 Rp 1.2M
$122 ฿3,975
-43.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.97 Rp 106.7K
$13.57 ฿443
-56.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.80 Rp 425.0K
$18.31 ฿598
29.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.26 Rp 611.9K
$60.2 ฿1,967
-43.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.44 Rp 186.4K
$17.14 ฿560
-39.09%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13 Rp 55.9K
$8.69 ฿284
-63.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$109 Rp 2.0M
$693 ฿22.6K
-84.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,628 Rp 136.2M
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-51.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.00 Rp 732.2K
$59.5 ฿1,944
-31.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.56 Rp 545.7K
$34.77 ฿1,136
-12.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.2 Rp 1.1M
$115 ฿3,743
-44.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.3 Rp 1.2M
$83.3 ฿2,720
-21.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$310 Rp 5.5M
$613 ฿20.0K
-49.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 Rp 4.3M
$437 ฿14.3K
-44.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$528 Rp 9.4M
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-74.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 Rp 6.6M
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-75.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,178 Rp 21.0M
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-68.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$770 Rp 13.7M
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-70.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
South Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$445 Rp 7.9M
$508 ฿16.6K
-12.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.59
5.33
79.92%

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

Last update for South Tangerang: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $310 in South Tangerang and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 14% 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: $18.00 in South Tangerang vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $293 per month, with South Tangerang 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
South Tangerang vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than South Tangerang?
South Tangerang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: South Tangerang or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 14% less. 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: $310 in South Tangerang versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $109 in South Tangerang versus $693 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 Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for South Tangerang or Phuket?
At $773 in South Tangerang versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 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 South Tangerang or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, South Tangerang 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, South Tangerang or Phuket?
Safety-wise, South Tangerang 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 South Tangerang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% 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

Similar cities