Cost of Living Comparison Between Calbayog and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Calbayog and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $694 per month in Calbayog vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,068 per month in Calbayog vs $2,286 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,442 per month in Calbayog vs $3,310 in Phuket, rent included.

Calbayog is about 45% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calbayog and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Calbayog 48% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.51 ₱213
$4.56 ฿149
-23.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.67 ₱1,073
$46.63 ฿1,519
-62.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.40 ₱207
$8.47 ฿276
-59.86%
Cappuccino
$2.36 ₱143
$3.03 ฿98.6
-22.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ₱47.20
$0.69 ฿22.45
13.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₱23.88
$0.37 ฿11.92
5.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.31 ₱79.4
$2.49 ฿81.0
-47.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 ₱132
$3.66 ฿119
-40.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 ₱78.6
$2.18 ฿71.0
-40.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 ₱77.4
$1.90 ฿62.0
-33.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ₱56.0
$2.20 ฿71.6
-58.18%
Eggs
$2.09 ₱127
$2.22 ฿72.4
-5.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.91 ₱480
$19.99 ฿651
-60.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.90 ₱237
$3.66 ฿119
6.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 ₱467
$13.25 ฿432
-41.89%
Apples (1kg)
$1.64 ₱99.9
$3.23 ฿105
-49.23%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 ₱60.2
$1.70 ฿55.3
-41.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.63 ₱160
$2.39 ฿78.0
10.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ₱94.3
$2.08 ฿67.7
-25.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.27 ₱138
$1.59 ฿51.8
42.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.60 ₱158
$1.48 ฿48.31
75.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ₱67.9
$1.03 ฿33.54
8.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₱43.41
$0.52 ฿16.83
36.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 ₱267
$4.25 ฿138
3.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.01 ₱486
$18.79 ฿612
-57.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₱45.56
$1.76 ฿57.2
-57.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 ₱57.5
$2.76 ฿89.8
-65.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₱17.17
$1.36 ฿44.32
-79.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.00 ₱1,275
$11.36 ฿370
84.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 ₱49.78
$3.14 ฿102
-73.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱13.32
$1.04 ฿33.74
-78.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 ₱130
$13.77 ฿448
-84.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 ₱92.2
$1.34 ฿43.79
13.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K ₱1.6M
$27.7K ฿901.4K
-2.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K ₱1.2M
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-40.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$114 ₱6,905
$124 ฿4,025
-7.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.28 ₱2,021
$13.52 ฿440
146.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.01 ₱1,701
$18.69 ฿609
49.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.49 ₱2,033
$61.8 ฿2,013
-45.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.39 ₱266
$17.25 ฿562
-74.55%
Cinema Ticket
$5.98 ₱363
$9.14 ฿298
-34.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$149 ₱9,064
$703 ฿22.9K
-78.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,363 ₱264.9K
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-72.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.56 ₱2,827
$59.5 ฿1,937
-21.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.93 ₱1,635
$35.07 ฿1,142
-23.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.9 ₱4,609
$115 ฿3,754
-34.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.1 ₱3,227
$84.1 ฿2,737
-36.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$177 ₱10.7K
$619 ฿20.1K
-71.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$106 ₱6,432
$433 ฿14.1K
-75.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$342 ₱20.7K
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-83.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$186 ₱11.3K
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-87.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,435 ₱147.8K
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-33.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,019 ₱61.9K
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-61.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calbayog
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$153 ₱9,312
$507 ฿16.5K
-69.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
5.33
25.14%

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

Last update for Calbayog: June 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $177 in Calbayog versus $619 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 231% 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 $18.00 in Calbayog versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $293 – 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 – Phuket is pricier by about 82%, 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 $1,040 per month in Calbayog and $1,892 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 60% 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 café 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 $694, than in Phuket at $1,261. 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 – 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 – 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.

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