Cost of Living Comparison Between Tesanj and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Tesanj and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $872 in Tesanj versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,322 in Tesanj versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,772 in Tesanj versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Tesanj costs roughly 31% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tesanj 35% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.51 BAM 5.89
$4.70 ฿153
-25.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.66 BAM 27.99
$45.37 ฿1,482
-63.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.00 BAM 5.04
$8.43 ฿275
-64.41%
Cappuccino
$0.85 BAM 1.43
$2.93 ฿95.6
-70.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 BAM 2.49
$0.69 ฿22.40
114.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 BAM 1.50
$0.37 ฿11.99
143.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.09 BAM 3.51
$2.41 ฿78.6
-13.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 BAM 3.05
$3.72 ฿122
-51.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 BAM 1.43
$2.23 ฿72.9
-61.88%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 BAM 1.51
$1.83 ฿59.8
-50.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.40 BAM 4.03
$2.17 ฿70.8
10.60%
Eggs
$2.78 BAM 4.67
$2.21 ฿72.3
25.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.76 BAM 16.40
$19.74 ฿645
-50.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.30 BAM 12.27
$3.63 ฿119
101.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.16 BAM 22.10
$13.53 ฿442
-2.73%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 BAM 2.09
$3.28 ฿107
-61.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 BAM 2.85
$1.61 ฿52.6
4.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 BAM 3.22
$2.41 ฿78.6
-20.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 BAM 2.78
$2.08 ฿68.1
-20.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 BAM 1.34
$1.53 ฿49.93
-47.71%
Onion (1kg)
$0.70 BAM 1.18
$1.48 ฿48.36
-52.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 BAM 1.56
$0.99 ฿32.29
-6.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 BAM 1.62
$0.51 ฿16.67
88.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49 BAM 5.86
$4.41 ฿144
-20.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.49 BAM 14.26
$19.38 ฿633
-56.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 BAM 2.11
$1.78 ฿58.1
-29.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 BAM 3.46
$2.71 ฿88.6
-23.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.85 BAM 3.11
$1.37 ฿44.79
35.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.58 BAM 59.8
$11.39 ฿372
212.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.16 BAM 1.95
$3.02 ฿98.6
-61.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 BAM 0.88
$0.99 ฿32.48
-47.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.67 BAM 17.93
$14.10 ฿461
-24.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 BAM 2.42
$1.36 ฿44.51
5.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K BAM 39.3K
$28.2K ฿921.1K
-17.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K BAM 44.9K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-18.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 BAM 209
$122 ฿3,975
2.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.29 BAM 32.41
$13.57 ฿443
42.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.67 BAM 48.17
$18.31 ฿598
56.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.51 BAM 49.58
$60.2 ฿1,967
-51.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.80 BAM 18.15
$17.14 ฿560
-36.99%
Cinema Ticket
$2.94 BAM 4.94
$8.69 ฿284
-66.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$150 BAM 251
$693 ฿22.6K
-78.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,312 BAM 5,565
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-78.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.8 BAM 121
$59.5 ฿1,944
20.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.38 BAM 59.5
$34.77 ฿1,136
1.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 BAM 168
$115 ฿3,743
-12.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 BAM 201
$83.3 ฿2,720
43.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$262 BAM 440
$613 ฿20.0K
-57.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$168 BAM 283
$437 ฿14.3K
-61.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$370 BAM 621
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-82.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 BAM 526
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-79.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,603 BAM 4,373
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-30.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,839 BAM 3,090
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-29.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tesanj
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$715 BAM 1,201
$508 ฿16.6K
40.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.14
5.33
-22.33%

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

Last update for Tesanj: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Tesanj and $613 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: $17.00 in Tesanj vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $293 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. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tesanj or Phuket?
Tesanj pays 41% more on average, 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: $262 in Tesanj 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 $150 in Tesanj 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 Tesanj and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Tesanj or Phuket?
At $872 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 45% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Tesanj vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities