ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,623 in Iglesias versus $1,247 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,467 in Iglesias versus $2,276 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,311 in Iglesias versus $3,306 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Iglesias is roughly 30% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Iglesias is 21% above, Phuket is 7% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Iglesias
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.40âŽ19.91
$4.59āļŋ147
409.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.4âŽ59.1
$46.83āļŋ1,501
48.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.02âŽ9.38
$8.70āļŋ279
26.67%
Cappuccino
$1.77âŽ1.51
$2.92āļŋ93.7
-39.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82âŽ2.40
$0.68āļŋ21.92
314.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19âŽ1.02
$0.40āļŋ12.70
197.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.73âŽ4.88
$2.51āļŋ80.4
128.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59âŽ3.91
$3.80āļŋ122
20.79%
ð Groceries & Markets
Iglesias
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17âŽ1.00
$2.16āļŋ69.3
-45.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15âŽ0.98
$1.88āļŋ60.3
-38.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77âŽ1.51
$2.16āļŋ69.2
-18.06%
Eggs
$3.43âŽ2.92
$2.22āļŋ71.2
54.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.88âŽ14.37
$19.57āļŋ627
-13.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.73âŽ6.58
$3.80āļŋ122
103.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.71âŽ6.56
$13.41āļŋ430
-42.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42âŽ2.06
$3.26āļŋ104
-25.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69âŽ1.43
$1.61āļŋ51.7
4.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22âŽ1.89
$2.31āļŋ74.0
-3.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.77âŽ1.51
$2.06āļŋ66.0
-14.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.82âŽ1.55
$1.61āļŋ51.5
13.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13âŽ1.81
$1.44āļŋ46.26
47.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42âŽ1.21
$1.03āļŋ33.01
37.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59âŽ0.50
$0.48āļŋ15.39
22.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65âŽ5.66
$4.50āļŋ144
47.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.14âŽ4.37
$19.18āļŋ615
-73.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65âŽ1.41
$1.82āļŋ58.4
-9.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37âŽ1.16
$2.69āļŋ86.2
-49.07%
ð Getting Around
Iglesias
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77âŽ1.51
$1.38āļŋ44.16
28.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.30âŽ36.85
$11.76āļŋ377
268.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.86âŽ3.29
$3.11āļŋ99.6
24.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11âŽ0.94
$1.00āļŋ32.18
11.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.86âŽ25.41
$13.74āļŋ441
117.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.06âŽ1.75
$1.30āļŋ41.61
58.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3KâŽ29.2K
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
25.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4KâŽ30.1K
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
7.14%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iglesias
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182âŽ155
$125āļŋ4,004
45.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.52âŽ9.80
$13.74āļŋ440
-16.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.66âŽ26.09
$18.61āļŋ597
64.75%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Iglesias
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.0âŽ46.82
$60.6āļŋ1,941
-9.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.85âŽ19.45
$17.15āļŋ550
33.24%
Cinema Ticket
$9.37âŽ7.97
$9.01āļŋ289
4.00%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Iglesias
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$545âŽ464
$698āļŋ22.4K
-21.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,864âŽ6,693
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
-51.19%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Iglesias
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.8âŽ77.3
$59.2āļŋ1,898
53.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.4âŽ53.1
$34.86āļŋ1,118
79.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.6âŽ72.9
$114āļŋ3,662
-25.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119âŽ102
$85.8āļŋ2,751
39.14%
ð Accommodation & Living
Iglesias
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$744âŽ634
$619āļŋ19.8K
20.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$578âŽ492
$437āļŋ14.0K
32.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,224âŽ1,042
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
-41.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$928âŽ790
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
-38.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,026âŽ2,575
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
-19.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,954âŽ1,663
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
-27.44%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Iglesias
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$528āļŋ16.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.87
5.33
-8.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Iglesias: April 14, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $744 in Iglesias and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $69 in Iglesias vs $47 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $292, with Iglesias cheaper for home cooking.
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
Iglesias vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Iglesias and Phuket?
Iglesias and Phuket differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,623 vs $1,247 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Iglesias compared to Phuket?
You'd need roughly $2,435 in Iglesias and $1,870 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Iglesias and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $744 in Iglesias versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Iglesias pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket â a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $69.0 in Iglesias. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,623 in Iglesias, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Iglesias. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Iglesias and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Iglesias or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Iglesias 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: Iglesias or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 30% less than in Iglesias. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.