Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dagupan and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Dagupan: $730 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dagupan, Philippines
Phuket, Thailand
Dagupan
🇵🇭 Philippines
$730
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dagupan and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Dagupan and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $730 per month in Dagupan vs $1,278 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Dagupan $730
  • Phuket $1,278

A couple spends around $1,083 per month in Dagupan vs $2,216 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Dagupan $1,083
  • Phuket $2,216

A family of three spends $1,435 per month in Dagupan vs $3,154 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Dagupan $1,435
  • Phuket $3,154

Dagupan is about 43% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Dagupan and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Dagupan 46% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dagupan
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 ₱176
$4.47 ฿151
-38.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.82 ₱755
$32.41 ฿1,094
-63.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.25 ₱271
$8.81 ฿297
-51.76%
Cappuccino
$2.39 ₱153
$2.83 ฿95.5
-15.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱31.45
$0.87 ฿29.43
-43.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 ₱14.01
$0.49 ฿16.67
-55.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.20 ₱76.6
$2.56 ฿86.4
-53.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 ₱171
$3.68 ฿124
-27.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dagupan
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ₱109
$1.66 ฿56.0
3.01%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 ₱80.9
$1.46 ฿49.35
-13.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ₱59.2
$1.50 ฿50.6
-38.00%
Eggs
$1.92 ₱122
$2.09 ฿70.5
-8.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.68 ₱363
$19.07 ฿644
-70.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.73 ₱302
$3.30 ฿111
43.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.66 ₱426
$10.91 ฿368
-38.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.91 ₱250
$2.93 ฿99.0
33.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 ₱122
$1.69 ฿57.1
13.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.76 ₱176
$2.25 ฿75.8
22.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 ₱71.7
$2.08 ฿70.1
-46.15%
Potato (1kg)
$2.78 ₱178
$1.51 ฿51.0
84.11%
Onion (1kg)
$3.38 ₱216
$1.38 ฿46.56
144.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₱66.7
$1.07 ฿35.99
-2.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.79
$0.52 ฿17.52
1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 ₱147
$4.20 ฿142
-45.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.36 ₱342
$18.79 ฿634
-71.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₱52.5
$1.82 ฿61.5
-54.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₱119
$2.84 ฿95.9
-34.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Dagupan
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 ₱12.66
$1.45 ฿49.03
-86.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$56.7 ฿1,913
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.60 ₱38.49
$3.02 ฿102
-80.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.71
$1.02 ฿34.36
-77.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.90 ₱122
$3.69 ฿125
-48.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₱70.3
$1.47 ฿49.81
-25.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ₱1.3M
$26.8K ฿904.3K
-21.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.7K ₱1.2M
$26.7K ฿901.3K
-29.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dagupan
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 ₱6,570
$96.4 ฿3,254
6.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.47 ₱988
$11.26 ฿380
37.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.08 ₱1,602
$16.85 ฿569
48.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dagupan
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.41 ₱2,071
$67.2 ฿2,270
-51.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.73 ฿362
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.03 ₱321
$7.50 ฿253
-32.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dagupan
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$767 ₱49.0K
$476 ฿16.1K
61.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,158 ₱457.3K
$11.3K ฿380.4K
-36.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dagupan
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9 ₱3,828
$62.4 ฿2,106
-3.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.65 ₱489
$28.41 ฿959
-73.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.4 ₱5,010
$94.3 ฿3,184
-16.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 ₱6,541
$85.8 ฿2,898
19.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dagupan
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$189 ₱12.1K
$716 ฿24.2K
-73.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$159 ₱10.2K
$491 ฿16.6K
-67.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$351 ₱22.4K
$1,927 ฿65.1K
-81.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 ₱16.8K
$1,431 ฿48.3K
-81.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,175 ฿141.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$463 ₱29.6K
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-84.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dagupan
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$231 ₱14.8K
$502 ฿17.0K
-54.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.5
5.57
34.65%

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

Last update for Dagupan: October 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dagupan
$194
Phuket
$266 37.5% $73
Accommodation & Living
Dagupan
$159
Phuket
$491 209% $332
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dagupan
$143
Phuket
$124 13.2% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Dagupan
$112
Phuket
$122 9.1% $10
Eating Out
Dagupan
$78
Phuket
$122 56.7% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Dagupan
$42
Phuket
$82 93.7% $40
Getting Around
Dagupan
$2.6 *
Phuket
$71 2668% $68

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $189 in Dagupan versus $716 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 in Phuket are about 2.2 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12 in Dagupan versus $32 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $266 – making Dagupan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Dagupan
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
04:47 4:47 AM
03:47 3:47 AM
1 h behind Dagupan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
174,302
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 63.89 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.13 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dagupan Phuket 2,550 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dagupan
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Dagupan vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dagupan cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 75%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,096 per month in Dagupan and $1,917 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 Dagupan, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $189 there versus $716 in Phuket.
Is eating out cheaper in Dagupan or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12 in Dagupan and $32 in Phuket. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Dagupan and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 37% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Dagupan or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dagupan, where all-in costs run around $730, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Dagupan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Dagupan or in Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $730 in Dagupan to $1,278 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Dagupan or Phuket?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Dagupan. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Dagupan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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