ðA single person spends $683 per month in Cauayan City vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,050 per month in Cauayan City vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,417 per month in Cauayan City vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
ðCauayan City is about 45% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Cauayan City and Phuket are more affordable than the global median â Cauayan City49% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.62âą223
$4.63āļŋ151
-21.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.25âą817
$46.84āļŋ1,532
-71.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.71âą167
$8.84āļŋ289
-69.34%
Cappuccino
$2.28âą141
$3.00āļŋ98.0
-24.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33âą20.48
$0.74āļŋ24.25
-55.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31âą18.85
$0.37āļŋ11.95
-16.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.03âą63.7
$2.44āļŋ79.8
-57.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74âą107
$3.61āļŋ118
-51.80%
ð Groceries & Markets
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69âą104
$2.26āļŋ73.9
-25.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21âą74.5
$1.84āļŋ60.1
-34.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93âą57.4
$2.24āļŋ73.4
-58.48%
Eggs
$1.45âą89.4
$2.32āļŋ75.7
-37.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.06âą312
$19.67āļŋ643
-74.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.76âą232
$3.65āļŋ119
3.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.06âą435
$13.10āļŋ428
-46.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.14âą132
$3.39āļŋ111
-36.87%
Banana(1kg)
$0.77âą47.67
$1.64āļŋ53.7
-53.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08âą128
$2.41āļŋ79.0
-13.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68âą42.00
$2.03āļŋ66.4
-66.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87âą53.5
$1.56āļŋ50.9
-44.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35âą83.1
$1.50āļŋ48.94
-10.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69âą42.49
$1.02āļŋ33.50
-32.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69âą42.41
$0.49āļŋ16.00
40.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55âą157
$4.45āļŋ145
-42.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.90âą549
$18.88āļŋ617
-52.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04âą63.9
$1.78āļŋ58.1
-41.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19âą135
$2.75āļŋ90.1
-20.36%
ð Getting Around
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26âą15.88
$1.40āļŋ45.81
-81.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48āļŋ376
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87âą53.7
$3.12āļŋ102
-72.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22âą13.50
$1.00āļŋ32.67
-78.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.46âą152
$14.09āļŋ461
-82.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15âą71.0
$1.35āļŋ44.19
-14.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7Kâą1.1M
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
-35.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6Kâą1.3M
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-37.33%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.1âą5,557
$125āļŋ4,087
-27.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.63âą2,136
$13.57āļŋ444
155.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.29âą1,622
$18.52āļŋ606
41.95%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.18âą2,109
$61.5āļŋ2,010
-44.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.36âą269
$16.84āļŋ551
-74.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27âą263
$9.19āļŋ300
-53.54%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$52.2âą3,222
$698āļŋ22.8K
-92.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,784âą110.0K
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
-88.56%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.94âą1,662
$57.8āļŋ1,889
-53.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.45âą1,323
$35.24āļŋ1,152
-39.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.7âą3,249
$113āļŋ3,699
-53.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.29âą2,917
$86.4āļŋ2,825
-45.25%
ð Accommodation & Living
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$268âą16.5K
$616āļŋ20.1K
-56.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175âą10.8K
$446āļŋ14.6K
-60.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576âą35.5K
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
-71.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393âą24.2K
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
-73.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,605âą160.7K
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-31.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$213âą13.1K
$524āļŋ17.1K
-59.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
5.33
-15.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cauayan City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $268 in Cauayan City 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 146% 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 $13.00 in Cauayan City versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $164 vs $292 â making Cauayan City 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
Cauayan City vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Cauayan City and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $683 in Cauayan City, $1,232 in Phuket â roughly 80% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Cauayan City compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,025 per month in Cauayan City 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 Cauayan City and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cauayan City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cauayan City or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $683 in Cauayan City and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Cauayan City and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $52.2 per month in Cauayan City and $698 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cauayan City, where all-in costs run around $683, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Cauayan City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Cauayan City and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $683 in Cauayan City to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Cauayan City 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 Cauayan City and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Cauayan City. 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.
Cauayan City vs other spots: cost of living compared