ðA single person spends $695 per month in Calbayog vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,060 per month in Calbayog vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,425 per month in Calbayog vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
ðCalbayog is about 44% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Calbayog and Phuket are more affordable than the global median â Calbayog48% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.61âą223
$4.63āļŋ151
-22.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.04âą1,113
$46.84āļŋ1,532
-61.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.36âą207
$8.84āļŋ289
-61.99%
Cappuccino
$2.47âą152
$3.00āļŋ98.0
-17.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79âą48.47
$0.74āļŋ24.25
6.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37âą22.59
$0.37āļŋ11.95
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.36âą83.8
$2.44āļŋ79.8
-44.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10âą129
$3.61āļŋ118
-41.83%
ð Groceries & Markets
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35âą83.4
$2.26āļŋ73.9
-40.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27âą78.2
$1.84āļŋ60.1
-30.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00âą61.7
$2.24āļŋ73.4
-55.36%
Eggs
$2.10âą129
$2.32āļŋ75.7
-9.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.84âą484
$19.67āļŋ643
-60.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.84âą237
$3.65āļŋ119
5.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.61âą469
$13.10āļŋ428
-41.91%
Apples(1kg)
$1.66âą102
$3.39āļŋ111
-51.03%
Banana(1kg)
$0.93âą57.2
$1.64āļŋ53.7
-43.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59âą160
$2.41āļŋ79.0
7.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55âą95.8
$2.03āļŋ66.4
-23.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.28âą141
$1.56āļŋ50.9
46.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.64âą163
$1.50āļŋ48.94
76.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12âą69.2
$1.02āļŋ33.50
9.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70âą43.46
$0.49āļŋ16.00
42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36âą269
$4.45āļŋ145
-2.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.77âą356
$18.88āļŋ617
-69.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77âą47.20
$1.78āļŋ58.1
-56.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00âą61.7
$2.75āļŋ90.1
-63.64%
ð Getting Around
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26âą16.00
$1.40āļŋ45.81
-81.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.88âą1,288
$11.48āļŋ376
81.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79âą48.52
$3.12āļŋ102
-74.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.24âą14.89
$1.00āļŋ32.67
-76.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.15âą133
$14.09āļŋ461
-84.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54âą95.0
$1.35āļŋ44.19
14.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2Kâą1.6M
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
-3.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2Kâą1.2M
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-38.54%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111âą6,862
$125āļŋ4,087
-10.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.40âą1,998
$13.57āļŋ444
138.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.85âą1,718
$18.52āļŋ606
50.38%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.69âą2,078
$61.5āļŋ2,010
-45.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.56âą281
$16.84āļŋ551
-72.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.05âą373
$9.19āļŋ300
-34.17%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154âą9,500
$698āļŋ22.8K
-77.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,233âą261.1K
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
-72.85%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.05âą2,779
$57.8āļŋ1,889
-22.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.15âą1,613
$35.24āļŋ1,152
-25.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.4âą4,586
$113āļŋ3,699
-34.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.3âą3,226
$86.4āļŋ2,825
-39.45%
ð Accommodation & Living
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$176âą10.9K
$616āļŋ20.1K
-71.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$106âą6,565
$446āļŋ14.6K
-76.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$341âą21.0K
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
-83.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$187âą11.5K
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
-87.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$525âą32.4K
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-86.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$502âą31.0K
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-81.05%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$154âą9,519
$524āļŋ17.1K
-70.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
5.33
25.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calbayog: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $176 in Calbayog 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 239% 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 $18.00 in Calbayog versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $292 â making Calbayog 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
Calbayog vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Calbayog?
Yes â Phuket is pricier by about 77%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,042 per month in Calbayog and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Calbayog, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Calbayog and Phuket?
Groceries cost about 64% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Calbayog or Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Calbayog and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Calbayog or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Calbayog, where all-in costs run around $695, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Calbayog it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Calbayog or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Calbayog â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Calbayog or Phuket?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Calbayog. 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.