Cost of Living: Bali vs Phuket (2026)
Indonesia vs Thailand — relocation comparison
1BR centre
At each city's local median pay
- VAT-free under €275k
- €200/yr accountant
- VAT-free under €46k
- €350/yr accountant
Sourced from Numbeo · Updated April 2026
Verdict delivered. Your move.
Sources: Numbeo · UNODC · Ookla · WHO · EIU · World Bank · Freedom House · Updated April 2026
Sun
How much sky you actually get
Source: WeatherSpark (clear-sky share of daytime hours)
Settler Essentials
Visa stamps:Easy <90 daysModerate 3–6 moComplex 6+ mo
Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · official immigration portals
Reproductive Rights
Because your body shouldn't need a visa too
Only for life-threatening emergencies or rape victims (up to 14 weeks). Highly restricted otherwise.
On request up to 12 weeks since 2021. Between 12-20 weeks with counseling.
Source: Center for Reproductive Rights
LGBTQ+ Rights
Can you hold hands without doing a risk assessment first
Bali vs Phuket — Common Questions
Is Bali cheaper than Phuket?▾
Phuket is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $708/month there vs $1082/month in the other city (Numbeo data).
Which is safer, Bali or Phuket?▾
Bali is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Bali has a rate of 0.31 per 100,000 and Phuket has 4.79 per 100,000.
Should I move to Bali or Phuket?▾
Too close to call — 63 vs 59. Bali has a slight edge, but Phuket might suit you better depending on your priorities. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.
Is it easier to get residency in Bali or Phuket?▾
Bali: Indonesia Second Home Visa (complex process, 5 or 10 years). Phuket: no specific remote work visa. See each city's profile page for full requirements.
Can I live in Bali or Phuket without speaking the local language?▾
Bali is easier for street-level English (25/100) than Phuket (7/100). That's the score that matters for doctors, landlords, and bureaucracy. Office English can still run higher than street English in both cities.
What's the cost of rent in Bali vs Phuket?▾
A 1-bedroom in the centre: $708/month in Phuket, $1082/month in Bali (Numbeo). That's 35% cheaper rent in Phuket.
Is healthcare better in Bali or Phuket?▾
Phuket scores higher on our composite healthcare index (71/100 vs 52/100 for Bali). That score combines clinical outcomes (IHME), universal coverage (WHO), and resident perception (Numbeo) — not just whether hospitals exist but whether the system actually works for settlers.
Plot twist: other matchups exist
Maybe the real city was the comparisons we made along the way.
Let the algorithm judge you
2 min quiz — surprisingly accurate
Related comparisons