ðA single person spends $530 per month in Cabanatuan vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,033 per month in Cabanatuan vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,535 per month in Cabanatuan vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
ðCabanatuan is about 57% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Cabanatuan and Phuket are more affordable than the global median â Cabanatuan60% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Cabanatuan
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.52âą277
$4.63āļŋ151
-2.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.89âą2,195
$46.84āļŋ1,523
-23.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.65âą223
$8.84āļŋ287
-58.71%
Cappuccino
$2.84âą174
$3.00āļŋ97.4
-5.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87âą53.4
$0.74āļŋ24.11
17.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48âą29.57
$0.37āļŋ11.88
29.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48âą90.9
$2.44āļŋ79.3
-39.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62âą160
$3.61āļŋ117
-27.42%
ð Groceries & Markets
Cabanatuan
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.04âą125
$2.26āļŋ73.5
-9.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56âą95.6
$1.84āļŋ59.8
-15.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93âą57.1
$2.24āļŋ73.0
-58.48%
Eggs
$2.06âą126
$2.32āļŋ75.3
-11.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.47âą212
$19.67āļŋ639
-82.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.16âą193
$3.65āļŋ119
-13.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.77âą414
$13.10āļŋ426
-48.32%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09âą250
$3.39āļŋ110
20.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21âą74.3
$1.64āļŋ53.4
-26.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.98âą121
$2.41āļŋ78.5
-17.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.82âą50.2
$2.03āļŋ66.0
-59.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42âą87.0
$1.56āļŋ50.6
-8.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45âą88.4
$1.50āļŋ48.66
-3.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04âą63.8
$1.02āļŋ33.30
1.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84âą51.7
$0.49āļŋ15.91
71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81âą172
$4.45āļŋ145
-36.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.88âą360
$18.88āļŋ614
-68.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74âą45.08
$1.78āļŋ57.7
-58.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74âą107
$2.75āļŋ89.5
-36.73%
ð Getting Around
Cabanatuan
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26âą15.89
$1.40āļŋ45.54
-81.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48āļŋ373
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74âą45.53
$3.12āļŋ101
-76.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22âą13.43
$1.00āļŋ32.48
-78.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.87âą53.3
$14.09āļŋ458
-93.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11âą67.7
$1.35āļŋ43.93
-17.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0Kâą1.7M
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
3.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.8Kâą1.1M
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-46.01%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cabanatuan
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$57.9âą3,542
$125āļŋ4,063
-53.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.92âą1,280
$13.57āļŋ441
54.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.79âą1,517
$18.52āļŋ602
33.86%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Cabanatuan
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.57âą769
$61.5āļŋ1,999
-79.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.73âą167
$16.84āļŋ547
-83.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.96âą426
$9.19āļŋ299
-24.27%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Cabanatuan
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152âą9,270
$698āļŋ22.7K
-78.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,231âą258.8K
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
-72.87%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Cabanatuan
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.12âą1,659
$57.8āļŋ1,878
-53.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.09âą2,086
$35.24āļŋ1,146
-3.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.6âą3,828
$113āļŋ3,677
-44.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.71âą2,919
$86.4āļŋ2,808
-44.77%
ð Accommodation & Living
Cabanatuan
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261âą15.9K
$616āļŋ20.0K
-57.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$44.47âą2,721
$446āļŋ14.5K
-90.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580âą35.5K
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
-71.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$395âą24.2K
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
-73.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$229âą14.0K
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
-91.35%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Cabanatuan
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$206âą12.6K
$524āļŋ17.0K
-60.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.17
5.33
15.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cabanatuan: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Cabanatuan versus $616 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 154% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Cabanatuan versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $292 â making Cabanatuan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Cabanatuan vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Cabanatuan and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $530 in Cabanatuan, $1,232 in Phuket â roughly 132% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Cabanatuan compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $795 per month in Cabanatuan and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Cabanatuan and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cabanatuan, 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 $36.00 in Cabanatuan and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 67% 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 Cabanatuan, where all-in costs run around $530, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Cabanatuan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Cabanatuan and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $530 in Cabanatuan to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Cabanatuan 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Cabanatuan and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Cabanatuan. 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.
Cabanatuan vs other spots: cost of living compared