Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Island Garden City of Samal and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Island Garden City of Samal: $870 a month against $1,301 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

42

Cost of Living Index in Island Garden City of Samal
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Island Garden City of Samal Living Index
62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index

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Island Garden City of Samal

🇵🇭 Philippines

$870

/mo nomad

Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,301

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Island Garden City of Samal 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 Island Garden City of Samal and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $870 per month in Island Garden City of Samal vs $1,301 in Phuket, rent included.

Island Garden City of Samal $870
Phuket $1,301

A couple spends around $1,307 per month in Island Garden City of Samal vs $2,238 in Phuket, rent included.

Island Garden City of Samal $1,307
Phuket $2,238

A family of three spends $1,744 per month in Island Garden City of Samal vs $3,175 in Phuket, rent included.

Island Garden City of Samal $1,744
Phuket $3,175

Island Garden City of Samal is about 33% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Island Garden City of Samal and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Island Garden City of Samal 35% lower, Phuket 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.54 ₱348

$4.47 ฿150

23.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.51 ₱1,290

$32.98 ฿1,103

-37.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.89 ₱245

$8.46 ฿283

-54.02%

Cappuccino

$2.24 ₱141

$2.74 ฿91.6

-18.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ₱64.3

$0.97 ฿32.43

5.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₱37.77

$0.55 ฿18.46

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 ₱89.9

$2.53 ฿84.6

-43.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₱136

$3.68 ฿123

-41.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.07 ₱130

$1.67 ฿56.0

23.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 ₱72.2

$1.41 ฿47.25

-18.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 ₱56.8

$1.60 ฿53.5

-43.75%

Eggs

$2.03 ₱128

$2.17 ฿72.6

-6.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.82 ₱428

$19.79 ฿662

-65.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 ₱322

$3.38 ฿113

51.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.22 ₱454

$11.03 ฿369

-34.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 ₱155

$2.93 ฿98.0

-15.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 ₱78.2

$1.69 ฿56.6

-26.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.44 ₱153

$2.29 ฿76.7

6.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 ₱80.9

$2.15 ฿72.0

-40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 ₱133

$1.52 ฿50.9

38.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 ₱96.1

$1.32 ฿44.16

15.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 ₱55.7

$1.12 ฿37.58

-20.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱45.15

$0.52 ฿17.38

38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 ₱158

$4.33 ฿145

-41.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 ₱363

$18.47 ฿618

-68.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₱78.3

$1.76 ฿59.0

-29.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₱97.8

$2.78 ฿92.9

-43.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 ₱14.89

$1.47 ฿49.11

-83.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.93 ₱876

$55.1 ฿1,843

-74.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 ₱50.1

$1.52 ฿50.9

-47.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.83

$0.73 ฿24.35

-69.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱117

$3.83 ฿128

-51.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ₱77.5

$1.48 ฿49.54

-16.89%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.5K ₱1.4M

$27.0K ฿903.2K

-20.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.5K ₱1.2M

$26.5K ฿887.2K

-26.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$106 ₱6,670

$101 ฿3,368

5.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.77 ₱1,180

$11.17 ฿374

68.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.91 ₱1,943

$17.33 ฿580

78.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.70 ₱2,119

$72.6 ฿2,427

-53.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.97 ₱564

$15.26 ฿511

-41.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.65 ₱292

$7.86 ฿263

-40.84%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$23.69 ₱1,489

$542 ฿18.1K

-95.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,917 ₱497.7K

$18.8K ฿628.4K

-57.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 ₱3,240

$62.5 ฿2,090

-17.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.65 ₱1,738

$28.83 ฿964

-4.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 ₱4,908

$98.0 ฿3,279

-20.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.71 ₱3,125

$89.1 ฿2,980

-44.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 ₱23.0K

$738 ฿24.7K

-50.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 ₱17.0K

$503 ฿16.8K

-46.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$921 ₱57.9K

$1,941 ฿64.9K

-52.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$483 ₱30.4K

$1,424 ฿47.6K

-66.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,913 ₱246.0K

$4,216 ฿141.0K

-7.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,081 ₱130.8K

$3,296 ฿110.2K

-36.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$496 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.75

5.57

39.14%

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

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: November 10, 2026

Last update for Phuket: November 9, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Island Garden City of Samal

$270 31.1%

Phuket

$503 38.6% 86.1% $233

Groceries & Markets

Island Garden City of Samal

$190 21.9%

Phuket

$269 20.7% 41.7% $79

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Island Garden City of Samal

$156 17.9%

Phuket

$129 9.9% 17.1% $27

Eating Out

Island Garden City of Samal

$101 11.6%

Phuket

$120 9.2% 19.1% $19

Clothing & Footwear

Island Garden City of Samal

$93 10.7%

Phuket

$125 9.6% 34.5% $32

Sport & Entertainment

Island Garden City of Samal

$43 4.9%

Phuket

$88 6.8% 105% $45

Getting Around

Island Garden City of Samal

$17 1.9%

Phuket

$66 5.1% 294% $49

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $366 in Island Garden City of Samal versus $738 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21 in Island Garden City of Samal versus $33 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $269 – making Island Garden City of Samal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Island Garden City of Samal

🇹🇭 Phuket

🕒 Local time

04:36 4:36 AM

03:36 3:36 AM

1 h behind Island Garden City of Samal

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

116,771

79,308

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Thai Baht THB ฿

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.42 EUR

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.87 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.54 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.45 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.53 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Island Garden City of Samal Phuket 3,010 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Island Garden City of Samal
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

Island Garden City of Samal vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 50% more than Island Garden City of Samal, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,305 per month in Island Garden City of Samal and $1,951 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Island Garden City of Samal, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $366 there versus $738 in Phuket.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $870 in Island Garden City of Samal and $1,301 in Phuket. That makes Island Garden City of Samal about 33% cheaper.

Public transport costs about 75% less in Island Garden City of Samal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $870 in Island Garden City of Samal and $1,301 in Phuket. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Island Garden City of Samal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

For expats, Island Garden City of Samal is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 33% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.