Cost of Living Comparison Between Cauayan City and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Cauayan City and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $679 per month in Cauayan City vs $1,223 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,036 per month in Cauayan City vs $2,237 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,392 per month in Cauayan City vs $3,251 in Phuket, rent included.

Cauayan City is about 44% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cauayan City and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Cauayan City 49% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 ₱215
$4.51 ฿147
-20.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.15 ₱792
$46.62 ฿1,515
-71.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.70 ₱163
$8.49 ฿276
-68.20%
Cappuccino
$2.36 ₱142
$3.08 ฿100
-23.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₱18.51
$0.68 ฿22.07
-54.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₱19.96
$0.36 ฿11.75
-8.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 ₱62.2
$2.43 ฿78.8
-57.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₱105
$3.63 ฿118
-52.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ₱104
$2.19 ฿71.1
-21.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 ₱75.5
$1.81 ฿59.0
-30.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 ₱54.7
$2.23 ฿72.5
-59.19%
Eggs
$1.48 ₱89.0
$2.24 ฿72.7
-33.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.87 ₱293
$19.60 ฿637
-75.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.91 ₱235
$3.72 ฿121
5.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.92 ₱417
$13.47 ฿438
-48.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.11 ₱127
$3.36 ฿109
-37.20%
Banana (1kg)
$0.83 ₱49.72
$1.62 ฿52.5
-48.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ₱132
$2.41 ฿78.3
-9.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 ₱41.93
$1.99 ฿64.6
-64.82%
Potato (1kg)
$0.91 ₱55.0
$1.53 ฿49.76
-40.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ₱82.0
$1.45 ฿47.19
-6.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ₱40.39
$1.01 ฿32.96
-33.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₱44.55
$0.48 ฿15.73
54.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.61 ₱157
$4.27 ฿139
-38.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.00 ₱542
$19.12 ฿621
-52.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 ₱64.2
$1.84 ฿59.7
-41.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ₱129
$2.74 ฿89.1
-21.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₱16.94
$1.42 ฿46.06
-80.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.72 ฿381
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 ₱52.1
$3.00 ฿97.6
-71.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ₱14.48
$1.05 ฿34.00
-77.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 ₱148
$13.90 ฿452
-82.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₱66.2
$1.29 ฿41.94
-14.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K ₱1.1M
$28.0K ฿911.1K
-37.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₱1.2M
$33.5K ฿1.1M
-38.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.0 ₱5,241
$122 ฿3,964
-28.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.93 ₱2,104
$13.93 ฿453
150.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.52 ₱1,597
$18.87 ฿613
40.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.35 ₱2,069
$61.3 ฿1,992
-43.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.45 ₱268
$16.84 ฿547
-73.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.35 ₱262
$8.89 ฿289
-51.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$53.1 ₱3,200
$691 ฿22.5K
-92.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,797 ₱108.2K
$16.2K ฿525.2K
-88.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.21 ₱1,578
$57.8 ฿1,878
-54.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.15 ₱1,274
$35.39 ฿1,150
-40.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.2 ₱3,263
$113 ฿3,685
-52.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.23 ₱2,845
$83.0 ฿2,698
-43.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$267 ₱16.1K
$607 ฿19.7K
-55.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$176 ₱10.6K
$448 ฿14.6K
-60.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$592 ₱35.7K
$2,029 ฿66.0K
-70.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 ₱24.1K
$1,493 ฿48.5K
-73.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,394 ₱144.2K
$3,585 ฿116.5K
-33.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,144 ₱68.9K
$2,585 ฿84.0K
-55.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cauayan City
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$216 ₱13.0K
$505 ฿16.4K
-57.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.5
5.33
-15.57%

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

Last update for Cauayan City: June 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $267 in Cauayan City versus $607 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 134% 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 Cauayan City versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $292 – 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: $679 in Cauayan City, $1,223 in Phuket – 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 $1,019 per month in Cauayan City and $1,835 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 $679 in Cauayan City and $1,223 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Cauayan City and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $53.1 per month in Cauayan City and $691 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 $679, than in Phuket at $1,223. 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 $679 in Cauayan City to $1,223 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 – 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.

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