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Bangkok vs Phuket cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Bangkok
🇹🇭 PhuketBangkok is 22% cheaper than Phuket
Living on $1,556 a month in Bangkok feels like about $1,792 in Phuket — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$71.9 vs $92.3
Per month
$1,556 vs $1,792
Local meal
฿ 70 vs ฿ 90
$2.12 vs $2.73
Taxi 5 km
฿ 52 vs ฿ 78
$1.58 vs $2.36
At a glance
FoodBangkok 21% cheaper
Cafés & drinksBangkok 17% cheaper
TransportBangkok 26% cheaper
StayBangkok 10% cheaper
FunBangkok 19% cheaper
- Where Bangkok is clearly cheaper: Taxi (33%↓), Transit (25%↓), Hotel night (22%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Bangkok | Phuket | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 70$2.12 | ฿ 90$2.73 | Bangkok −22% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 32$0.97 | ฿ 41$1.24 | Bangkok −22% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 400$12.1 | ฿ 500$15.2 | Bangkok −20% |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 80$2.42 | ฿ 90$2.73 | Bangkok −11% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 90$2.73 | ฿ 110$3.33 | Bangkok −18% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 230$6.97 | ฿ 290$8.79 | Bangkok −21% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | ฿ 12$0.36 | Bangkok −17% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 25$0.76 | ฿ 30$0.91 | Bangkok −17% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 52$1.58 | ฿ 78$2.36 | Bangkok −33% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 66$2 | ฿ 82$2.48 | Bangkok −20% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | ฿ 40$1.21 | Bangkok −25% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 260$7.88 | ฿ 330$10 | Bangkok −21% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,400$42.4 | ฿ 1,800$54.5 | Bangkok −22% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 16,000$485 | ฿ 15,000$455 | Phuket −6% |
| Laundry | ฿ 50$1.52 | ฿ 61$1.85 | Bangkok −18% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 260$7.88 | ฿ 330$10 | Bangkok −21% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 120$3.64 | ฿ 140$4.24 | Bangkok −14% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 330$10 | ฿ 410$12.4 | Bangkok −20% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 990$30 | ฿ 1,200$36.4 | Bangkok −18% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 260$7.88 | ฿ 330$10 | Bangkok −21% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Bangkok or Phuket?
Bangkok is 22% cheaper than Phuket. Daily budget $71.9 vs $92.3; a month $1,556 vs $1,792.
How do monthly costs compare between Bangkok and Phuket?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Bangkok is about $1,556 and Phuket about $1,792 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.