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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in Tangerang versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,290 in Tangerang versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,794 in Tangerang versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in Tangerang costs roughly 37% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tangerang 41% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57 Rp 28.1K
$4.55 ฿153
-65.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.76 Rp 337.1K
$46.18 ฿1,553
-59.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.49 Rp 62.7K
$8.84 ฿297
-60.52%
Cappuccino
$1.73 Rp 31.1K
$3.06 ฿103
-43.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
$0.73 ฿24.40
-21.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,642
$0.40 ฿13.39
-35.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$2.43 ฿81.8
12.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 Rp 63.0K
$3.78 ฿127
-7.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 Rp 21.1K
$2.26 ฿76.0
-47.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 Rp 19.8K
$1.81 ฿60.9
-39.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 Rp 16.9K
$2.25 ฿75.8
-58.22%
Eggs
$1.60 Rp 28.7K
$2.25 ฿75.5
-28.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.34 Rp 167.9K
$19.51 ฿656
-52.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 Rp 56.1K
$3.65 ฿123
-14.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.69 Rp 138.2K
$13.05 ฿439
-41.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$3.23 ฿109
-15.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 Rp 26.0K
$1.62 ฿54.4
-10.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 Rp 40.4K
$2.38 ฿80.1
-5.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.2K
$2.03 ฿68.1
-22.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.3K
$1.53 ฿51.6
-4.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 Rp 48.8K
$1.50 ฿50.5
80.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 18.9K
$0.98 ฿32.91
7.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,194
$0.52 ฿17.39
-11.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
$4.44 ฿149
-36.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.61 Rp 370.4K
$18.32 ฿616
12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 Rp 41.7K
$1.86 ฿62.7
24.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 Rp 57.0K
$2.68 ฿90.1
18.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,326
$1.41 ฿47.46
-78.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.34 Rp 149.9K
$11.70 ฿393
-28.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.56 Rp 10.1K
$3.11 ฿105
-81.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,252
$1.04 ฿35.06
-55.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 Rp 44.0K
$14.11 ฿474
-82.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 15.2K
$1.31 ฿44.10
-35.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K Rp 553.7M
$27.8K ฿935.4K
10.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K Rp 500.0M
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-16.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.4 Rp 1.6M
$122 ฿4,118
-26.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.55 Rp 81.7K
$13.59 ฿457
-66.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.52 Rp 404.6K
$18.70 ฿629
20.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.44 Rp 349.4K
$60.5 ฿2,034
-67.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.53 Rp 207.3K
$16.98 ฿571
-32.10%
Cinema Ticket
$3.15 Rp 56.5K
$9.07 ฿305
-65.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$103 Rp 1.9M
$706 ฿23.8K
-85.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,952 Rp 142.9M
$15.8K ฿531.5K
-49.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.03 Rp 755.2K
$58.6 ฿1,969
-28.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.54 Rp 548.8K
$35.36 ฿1,189
-13.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.3 Rp 1.3M
$115 ฿3,883
-37.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$83.7 ฿2,816
-7.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$507 Rp 9.1M
$626 ฿21.0K
-18.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$242 Rp 4.3M
$445 ฿15.0K
-45.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,073 Rp 19.3M
$2,040 ฿68.6K
-47.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$647 Rp 11.6M
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-56.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,328 Rp 23.9M
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-61.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$498 Rp 8.9M
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-80.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tangerang
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$274 Rp 4.9M
$500 ฿16.8K
-45.28%
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 Tangerang: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $507 in Tangerang and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 83% 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: $19.00 in Tangerang vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $289 per month, with 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
Tangerang vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Tangerang?
Tangerang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tangerang or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 83% 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 Tangerang and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $507 in Tangerang versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $103 in Tangerang versus $706 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 Tangerang and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tangerang or in Phuket?
At $787 in Tangerang versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tangerang but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tangerang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tangerang or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, 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, Tangerang or Phuket?
Safety-wise, 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 Tangerang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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