Cost of Living Comparison Between Tesanj and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Tesanj and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $954 in Tesanj versus $1,265 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,390 in Tesanj versus $2,089 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,825 in Tesanj versus $2,913 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Tesanj costs roughly 25% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tesanj31% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.46BAM 5.81
$4.66฿153
-25.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.42BAM 27.59
$32.22฿1,060
-49.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.94BAM 4.93
$8.68฿286
-66.13%
Cappuccino
$0.91BAM 1.53
$2.90฿95.4
-68.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44BAM 2.42
$0.84฿27.78
71.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86BAM 1.44
$0.49฿16.10
75.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.07BAM 3.48
$2.48฿81.7
-16.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81BAM 3.03
$3.73฿123
-51.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.81BAM 1.36
$1.89฿62.0
-57.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86BAM 1.44
$1.41฿46.36
-39.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31BAM 3.88
$1.62฿53.4
42.59%
Eggs
$3.06BAM 5.13
$2.24฿73.8
36.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.88BAM 16.60
$19.84฿653
-50.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.27BAM 12.22
$3.48฿114
108.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.43BAM 22.55
$11.37฿374
18.12%
Apples(1kg)
$1.25BAM 2.10
$2.90฿95.4
-56.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81BAM 3.04
$1.72฿56.8
5.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85BAM 3.10
$2.27฿74.8
-18.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.74BAM 2.93
$2.13฿70.2
-18.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79BAM 1.33
$1.47฿48.53
-46.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68BAM 1.15
$1.42฿46.73
-52.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95BAM 1.59
$1.10฿36.11
-13.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.01BAM 1.70
$0.60฿19.68
68.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00BAM 6.72
$4.31฿142
-7.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.02BAM 13.48
$18.60฿612
-56.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31BAM 2.19
$1.80฿59.3
-27.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32BAM 3.90
$2.97฿97.6
-21.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.31BAM 2.20
$2.25฿73.9
-41.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$23.49฿773
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.17BAM 1.97
$3.10฿102
-62.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57BAM 0.96
$1.08฿35.42
-47.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.75BAM 18.06
$3.87฿127
177.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53BAM 2.57
$1.43฿46.97
6.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6KBAM 53.1K
$27.8K฿914.4K
13.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KBAM 37.6K
$27.0K฿888.0K
-16.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124BAM 209
$105฿3,449
18.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.92BAM 31.78
$11.39฿375
66.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.33BAM 47.59
$17.54฿577
61.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.48BAM 57.9
$54.3฿1,788
-36.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.09BAM 50.6
$11.44฿377
163.02%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01BAM 5.05
$7.78฿256
-61.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152BAM 256
$576฿19.0K
-73.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,994BAM 6,709
$11.6K฿381.2K
-65.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116BAM 195
$63.6฿2,094
82.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.80BAM 58.5
$29.10฿958
19.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.6BAM 164
$96.2฿3,167
1.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117BAM 197
$90.0฿2,962
30.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$349BAM 586
$733฿24.1K
-52.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$262BAM 441
$501฿16.5K
-47.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$528BAM 888
$2,126฿70.0K
-75.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380BAM 638
$1,252฿41.2K
-69.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,544BAM 4,272
$3,534฿116.3K
-28.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,825BAM 3,065
$2,622฿86.3K
-30.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$715BAM 1,201
$508฿16.7K
40.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.3
5.57
-22.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tesanj: September 6, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $349 in Tesanj and $733 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tesanj pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Tesanj vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $275 per month, with Tesanj 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
Tesanj vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Tesanj?
Tesanj is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tesanj or Phuket?
Average pay runs 41% higher in Tesanj, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Tesanj and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $349 in Tesanj versus $733 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $152 in Tesanj versus $576 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Tesanj or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Tesanj – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tesanj or in Phuket?
At $954 in Tesanj versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tesanj but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tesanj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tesanj or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Tesanj 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, Tesanj or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Tesanj 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 Tesanj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.