🇮🇩 Denpasar vs 🇹🇭 Phuket
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Denpasar is 29% cheaper than Phuket
Quick answer
Comparing Denpasar, Indonesia and Phuket, Thailand: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $1,000 in Denpasar versus $1,411 in Phuket. Denpasar is roughly 29% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $350/mo (Denpasar) vs $663/mo (Phuket). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $1,000/mo in Denpasar single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $1,411/mo in Phuket single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $350/mo in Denpasar · $663/mo in Phuket.
- Cheaper overall: Denpasar ~29% cheaper than Phuket.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics + item-level price snapshots · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Phuket | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $700/mo | $1,000/mo | +43% |
| Moderate | $1,000/mo | $1,411/mo | +41% |
| Comfortable | $1,500/mo | $2,100/mo | +40% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Phuket | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $350/mo | $663/mo | +89% |
| Groceries & Food | $200/mo | $230/mo | +15% |
| Dining Out | $100/mo | $115/mo | +15% |
| Transport | $100/mo | $115/mo | +15% |
| Utilities & Internet | $100/mo | $115/mo | +15% |
| Healthcare | $80/mo | $92/mo | +15% |
| Leisure & Personal | $70/mo | $81/mo | +16% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Housing (1-bed, center)
Denpasar
$350
Phuket
$663
Groceries & Food
Denpasar
$200
Phuket
$230
Dining Out
Denpasar
$100
Phuket
$115
Transport
Denpasar
$100
Phuket
$115
Utilities & Internet
Denpasar
$100
Phuket
$115
Healthcare
Denpasar
$80
Phuket
$92
Leisure & Personal
Denpasar
$70
Phuket
$81
Detailed Price Comparison
Sources: BPS (Indonesia), World Bank / NSO (Thailand), World Bank. Updated Jan 2026.
Groceries
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Phuket | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaf of bread (500g) | $1 | $2 | +31% |
| Milk (1 liter) | $2 | $2 | +13% |
| Eggs (12) | $1 | $2 | +43% |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $3 | $4 | +28% |
| Rice (1 kg) | $1 | $1 | +57% |
Restaurants & Cafes
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Phuket | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasi goreng (warung) | $1 | $2 | +77% |
| Fast food combo meal | $5 | $5 | +13% |
| Cappuccino | $3 | $3 | +12% |
| Beer (Bintang, restaurant) | $3 | $4 | +28% |
Housing
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Phuket | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom villa/apartment, center | $500 | $663 | +33% |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside | $300 | $450 | +50% |
| 3-bedroom villa, center | $1,200 | $1,400 | +17% |
| 3-bedroom apartment, outside | $650 | $850 | +31% |
Transport
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Phuket | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scooter rental (monthly) | $55 | $100 | +82% |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | $1 | $1 | +69% |
Utilities & Internet
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Phuket | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity, water, garbage (85m²) | $55 | $90 | +64% |
| Internet (60+ Mbps) | $25 | $22 | -12% |
Leisure & Fitness
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Phuket | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gym membership (monthly) | $30 | $40 | +33% |
Personal Care
| Item | 🇮🇩 Denpasar | 🇹🇭 Phuket | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut (men) | $3 | $6 | +75% |
Quick Facts
🇮🇩 Denpasar
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,000
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $350/mo
- Safety index
- 63/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 58/100
- Country
- Indonesia
🇹🇭 Phuket
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $1,411
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $663/mo
- Cappuccino
- $2.80
- Inexpensive meal
- $4.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $30
- Internet speed
- 100 Mbps
- Safety index
- 65/100(moderately safe)
- Healthcare index
- 75/100
- Country
- Thailand
Explore more: Denpasar city guide | Phuket city guide | Indonesia | Thailand
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Denpasar or Phuket cheaper to live in?
Denpasar is approximately 29% cheaper than Phuket overall.
How much does it cost to live in Denpasar per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Denpasar is approximately $1,000 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket per month?
A moderate monthly budget for a single person in Phuket is approximately $1,411 on the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
What is the rent difference between Denpasar and Phuket?
A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs around $350/month in Denpasar and $663/month in Phuket.