🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $502 in Dasmarinas versus $1,253 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $750 in Dasmarinas versus $2,043 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $998 in Dasmarinas versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Dasmarinas costs roughly 60% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Dasmarinas63% lower, Phuket9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dasmarinas
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.10₱257
$4.56฿150
-10.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.57₱1,037
$32.62฿1,073
-49.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.76₱173
$8.90฿293
-68.99%
Cappuccino
$1.78₱111
$2.80฿92.3
-36.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59₱37.08
$0.88฿28.96
-32.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31₱19.38
$0.49฿16.09
-36.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.01₱63.4
$2.39฿78.6
-57.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57₱98.2
$3.71฿122
-57.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dasmarinas
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40₱87.4
$1.79฿58.8
-21.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11₱69.6
$1.44฿47.43
-22.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.70₱43.81
$1.58฿52.1
-55.70%
Eggs
$1.82₱114
$2.13฿70.0
-14.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.01₱313
$19.92฿655
-74.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.46₱216
$3.43฿113
0.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.68₱293
$11.33฿373
-58.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23₱140
$2.95฿97.0
-24.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60₱100
$1.72฿56.6
-6.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.44₱153
$2.32฿76.5
5.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.05₱65.7
$2.08฿68.5
-49.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70₱106
$1.47฿48.37
15.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75₱110
$1.36฿44.68
28.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62₱38.65
$1.10฿36.15
-43.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50₱31.20
$0.57฿18.90
-12.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₱183
$4.27฿140
-31.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.07₱568
$18.42฿606
-50.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90₱56.4
$1.87฿61.6
-51.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01₱126
$2.92฿96.1
-31.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Dasmarinas
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.22฿73.0
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.90฿753
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₱49.39
$3.03฿99.7
-73.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₱15.69
$1.07฿35.34
-76.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.89₱118
$3.93฿129
-51.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98₱61.2
$1.49฿49.09
-34.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K₱1.4M
$27.1K฿892.5K
-20.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K₱1.2M
$27.5K฿903.2K
-28.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dasmarinas
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.99₱3,067
$103฿3,382
-52.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.37₱1,087
$10.99฿362
58.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85₱1,493
$17.51฿576
36.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dasmarinas
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.47₱2,095
$53.5฿1,761
-37.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.20฿368
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.10₱320
$7.48฿246
-31.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dasmarinas
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$136₱8,490
$557฿18.3K
-75.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8K₱677.1K
$11.9K฿390.0K
-8.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dasmarinas
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.71₱1,797
$64.1฿2,108
-55.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.82₱1,241
$29.07฿957
-31.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.5₱4,478
$96.0฿3,157
-25.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.4₱3,470
$90.3฿2,972
-38.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dasmarinas
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$730฿24.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$48.46₱3,034
$500฿16.4K
-90.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,090฿68.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,209฿39.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,596฿118.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,512฿82.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dasmarinas
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$357₱22.4K
$503฿16.6K
-28.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.4
5.57
14.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dasmarinas: September 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Phuket pays 41% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Dasmarinas vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $161 vs $273 per month, with Dasmarinas cheaper across the board.
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
Dasmarinas vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Dasmarinas and in Phuket?
Dasmarinas and Phuket differ by about 150% in total monthly costs ($502 vs $1,253 including rent). Dasmarinas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Phuket. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Dasmarinas and Phuket?
Childcare runs $136 in Dasmarinas versus $557 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Dasmarinas – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $33.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $502 in Dasmarinas versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Dasmarinas but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Dasmarinas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Dasmarinas and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Dasmarinas or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Dasmarinas and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Dasmarinas or Phuket?
Expats usually find Dasmarinas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 150% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Dasmarinas vs other spots: cost of living compared