Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bacolod and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Bacolod: $607 a month against $1,207 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Bacolod
🇵🇭 Philippines
$607
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bacolod and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bacolod and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $607 per month in Bacolod vs $1,207 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Bacolod $607
  • Phuket $1,207

A couple spends around $885 per month in Bacolod vs $2,037 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Bacolod $885
  • Phuket $2,037

A family of three spends $1,162 per month in Bacolod vs $2,867 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Bacolod $1,162
  • Phuket $2,867

Bacolod is about 50% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Bacolod and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Bacolod 55% lower, Phuket 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bacolod
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34 ₱147
$4.58 ฿153
-48.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.87 ₱810
$32.48 ฿1,086
-60.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.03 ₱254
$8.55 ฿286
-52.87%
Cappuccino
$2.46 ₱155
$2.72 ฿91.0
-9.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₱43.96
$0.94 ฿31.25
-25.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₱23.61
$0.49 ฿16.39
-22.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.37 ₱86.3
$2.59 ฿86.6
-47.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 ₱112
$3.83 ฿128
-53.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bacolod
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 ₱101
$1.74 ฿58.1
-7.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 ₱73.2
$1.43 ฿47.82
-18.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ₱60.0
$1.53 ฿51.0
-37.91%
Eggs
$1.66 ₱105
$2.17 ฿72.7
-23.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.92 ₱561
$19.15 ฿640
-53.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.95 ₱437
$3.30 ฿110
110.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$11.14 ฿372
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 ₱212
$2.95 ฿98.5
14.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 ₱152
$1.68 ฿56.1
44.05%
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.30 ฿76.8
-
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₱33.60
$2.13 ฿71.3
-75.12%
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.53 ฿51.1
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 ₱126
$1.36 ฿45.55
47.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.12 ฿37.44
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 ₱64.8
$0.55 ฿18.24
87.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77 ₱175
$4.26 ฿142
-34.98%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.19 ฿608
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₱57.4
$1.74 ฿58.2
-47.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.79 ฿93.3
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bacolod
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 ₱11.18
$2.22 ฿74.1
-91.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.06 ฿737
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 ₱38.66
$2.91 ฿97.3
-79.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.01 ฿33.79
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.83 ฿128
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 ₱80.5
$1.49 ฿49.85
-14.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K ₱1.4M
$26.7K ฿891.6K
-17.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K ₱1.5M
$26.7K ฿892.7K
-10.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bacolod
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$137 ₱8,646
$99.4 ฿3,321
38.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.99 ₱503
$11.28 ฿377
-29.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.20 ₱1,776
$17.36 ฿580
62.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bacolod
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.87 ₱999
$52.3 ฿1,747
-69.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.44 ₱153
$10.85 ฿362
-77.51%
Cinema Ticket
$4.37 ₱275
$7.57 ฿253
-42.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bacolod
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$31.23 ₱1,966
$558 ฿18.7K
-94.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.5K ฿383.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bacolod
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$62.9 ฿2,102
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$28.58 ฿955
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$96.1 ฿3,213
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$88.1 ฿2,943
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bacolod
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$267 ₱16.8K
$729 ฿24.4K
-63.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$178 ₱11.2K
$460 ฿15.4K
-61.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 ₱29.9K
$2,096 ฿70.0K
-77.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$347 ₱21.8K
$1,222 ฿40.8K
-71.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,459 ฿115.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,489 ฿83.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bacolod
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$206 ₱13.0K
$493 ฿16.5K
-58.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.57
-

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

Last update for Bacolod: October 11, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bacolod
$178
Phuket
$460 158% $282
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bacolod
$174
Phuket
$128 26.2% $46
Groceries & Markets
Bacolod
$155 *
Phuket
$268 73.1% $113
Eating Out
Bacolod
$75
Phuket
$121 61.8% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Bacolod
$25
Phuket
$67 174% $43
Getting Around
Bacolod
$1.3 *
Phuket
$39 2846% $38
Clothing & Footwear
Bacolod
- *
Phuket
$124

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $267 in Bacolod versus $729 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 139% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Bacolod versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $155 vs $268 – making Bacolod the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Bacolod
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
03:54 3:54 AM
02:54 2:54 AM
1 h behind Bacolod
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
561,875
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bacolod Phuket 2,710 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bacolod
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bacolod vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bacolod and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $607 in Bacolod, $1,207 in Phuket – roughly 99% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Bacolod compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $911 per month in Bacolod and $1,811 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bacolod and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacolod, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Bacolod and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 73% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bacolod, where all-in costs run around $607, than in Phuket at $1,207. In Bacolod it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Bacolod and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $607 in Bacolod to $1,207 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bacolod or Phuket safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Bacolod and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Bacolod. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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