Phuket and Bangkok are two of the biggest, most visited, and most developed locations in Thailand. While Phuket is the largest island in the whole country, Bangkok is known as the capital city of the Land of Smiles. Considering the relevance of these two places to Thailand, you may be wondering which of them is more expensive to live in.
When you compare the cost of living in these two cities, Phuket is slightly more expensive than Bangkok. Whether you are traveling around any of these two places or just living there, you are likely going to spend less in Bangkok than in Phuket for the same lifestyle. In addition, Holidify notes that Bangkok is a cheaper destination than the island of Phuket.
However, it is vital to note that the costs of living in these two cities are relatively comparable. Furthermore, a few things are more expensive to buy or do in Bangkok than in Phuket and vice versa. To help you to have a good understanding of how Phuket is a bit more expensive than Bangkok, we will consider the breakdown of the cost of living in the two cities.
Phuket vs. Bangkok: Rent/accommodation
As expected, accommodation will take the lion’s share of your expenses in Bangkok or Phuket. Generally, both Phuket and Bangkok have high-end areas with luxurious houses that will cost you thousands of dollars every month. The two areas also have tons of 5-star hotels and resorts for interested tourists. But they don’t lack numerous low-quality and cheap accommodations.
Overall, the average monthly rent in Phuket is more expensive than that of Bangkok for the same type of house. The money you will spend on a regular 2-bedroom apartment in Phuket can probably be the same for getting a modern 1-bedroom condo in a good neighborhood in Bangkok. But Phuket tends to have cheap houses in good neighborhoods than Bangkok. To get cheap accommodations in the capital city of Thailand, you will need to stay in the greater metro area and the city’s outskirts which will require lots of transportation fares.
Phuket vs. Bangkok: Food
The difference in the cost of food in these two cities depends on the type of food you want to eat. If you are interested in eating in medium-scale and high-end restaurants, the price range for food in Bangkok and Phuket will be quite similar. According to Budget Your Trip, an average person will spend about $18 on food daily in Phuket. In comparison, you need around $15 for daily feeding in Bangkok.
But for those looking for street food, Bangkok is a cheaper place than Phuket. Typically, one serving of Pad Thai on the street of Phuket will cost around 10 to 20 Thai Baht more than what you will pay for the same meal in Bangkok. Of course, when you add up this small difference in the prices, the sum can make a big difference in your finance in the long run.
Phuket vs. Bangkok: Transportation
Transportation is another important factor that must be considered when looking at the cost of living in a place. In this regard, there is no competition between these two Thai cities as Bangkok beats Phuket hands down. This is because of the BTS, MRT, and other forms of transportation available in the capital city that are missing in Koh Phuket and other cities in Thailand. On the island of Phuket, you can only move around through buses, bikes, private cars, boats, etc. which even tend to be more expensive than the ones available in Bangkok.
In general, you will likely spend about three to four times more on transportation in Phuket than in Bangkok. This also applies to the other well-known islands in the country. Fortunately, you can rent a bike in the two cities at almost the same price in both Phuket and Bangkok. Many people prefer buying or renting a car during their stay on the island as public transportation can be unreliable.
Phuket vs. Bangkok: Entertainment
These two cities have tons of entertainment options. From historical temples to museums, cinemas, kids’ playgrounds, parks, shows, and other attractions, you can never run out of the places to visit in Bangkok and Phuket. To visit most of these places, you need to spend on day tours, admission tickets, etc. In comparison, you will probably spend more in Phuket than in Bangkok as the entertainment options on the island are typically more expensive.
If you are a tourist exploring various parts of these cities, Budget Your Trip says you should budget about $36 for your daily entertainment in Phuket. According to the same source, you will probably not spend up to $15 on entertainment in Bangkok every day. Notably, you may not spend close to the specified amount in Bangkok as the city has several free attractions that both locals and foreigners can visit to have fun.
Phuket vs. Bangkok: Alcohol
This is one of the few areas where Bangkok is more expensive than Phuket. If you are familiar with drinking in Thailand, you would have known that alcohol is quite expensive in this Southeast Asian country. This is because of the high tax on foreign goods such as alcohol. Expectedly, people have different budgets for alcohol. While some people don’t take alcohol at all, others may take a couple of bottles each day.
In Bangkok, an average individual will spend about $7 on alcohol daily. Comparatively, an average individual will only spend $5.5 on alcohol every day in Phuket. Therefore, staying in Phuket will save you lots of money on alcohol than in Bangkok.
It is important to realize that the overall cost of alcohol will be determined by the type of alcohol you are taking.
Verdict: Phuket is more expensive than Bangkok
In a nutshell, the island of Phuket is more expensive than Bangkok. Whether you just want to stay or explore the city, you should be ready to spend more in Koh Phuket than the capital city of Thailand. However, alcohol and a few other things are more expensive in Bangkok than in Phuket.
