Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ligao City and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Ligao City: $720 a month against $1,294 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ligao City, Philippines
Phuket, Thailand
Ligao City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$720
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $720 per month in Ligao City vs $1,294 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Ligao City $720
  • Phuket $1,294

A couple spends around $1,097 per month in Ligao City vs $2,204 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Ligao City $1,097
  • Phuket $2,204

A family of three spends $1,473 per month in Ligao City vs $3,115 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Ligao City $1,473
  • Phuket $3,115

Ligao City is about 44% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Ligao City and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Ligao City 47% lower, Phuket 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.92 ₱249
$4.39 ฿148
-10.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.26 ₱1,031
$32.31 ฿1,089
-49.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.70 ₱171
$8.70 ฿293
-68.97%
Cappuccino
$2.20 ₱139
$2.72 ฿91.8
-19.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₱43.40
$0.93 ฿31.35
-26.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₱21.26
$0.50 ฿16.83
-32.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 ₱72.2
$2.53 ฿85.3
-54.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ₱130
$3.63 ฿122
-43.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 ₱106
$1.74 ฿58.6
-4.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 ₱72.2
$1.45 ฿48.89
-21.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 ₱57.6
$1.50 ฿50.6
-39.33%
Eggs
$1.86 ₱118
$2.17 ฿73.2
-14.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.55 ₱352
$19.09 ฿643
-70.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.01 ₱254
$3.40 ฿115
17.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.83 ₱433
$10.90 ฿367
-37.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 ₱145
$2.94 ฿99.1
-22.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 ₱94.7
$1.69 ฿57.0
-11.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ₱148
$2.19 ฿73.9
6.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.16 ₱73.2
$2.12 ฿71.6
-45.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.07 ₱131
$1.46 ฿49.15
41.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 ₱138
$1.37 ฿46.10
59.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ₱69.1
$1.08 ฿36.26
0.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₱35.81
$0.55 ฿18.38
1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ₱182
$4.43 ฿149
-35.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.50 ₱476
$18.25 ฿615
-58.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₱58.2
$1.77 ฿59.7
-48.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 ₱120
$2.88 ฿97.1
-34.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ₱13.93
$1.45 ฿48.78
-84.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.46 ₱790
$54.9 ฿1,850
-77.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.73
$1.51 ฿51.0
-50.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱13.93
$0.78 ฿26.14
-71.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.86 ₱118
$3.84 ฿129
-51.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 ₱74.8
$1.49 ฿50.1
-20.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K ₱1.3M
$26.9K ฿905.9K
-23.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K ₱1.2M
$26.3K ฿887.8K
-26.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ₱7,719
$97.8 ฿3,296
24.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.64 ₱991
$11.29 ฿381
38.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.50 ₱1,489
$17.19 ฿579
36.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.72 ₱2,010
$68.3 ฿2,303
-53.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.14 ₱326
$10.92 ฿368
-52.93%
Cinema Ticket
$5.14 ₱326
$7.43 ฿250
-30.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$131 ₱8,323
$530 ฿17.9K
-75.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,914 ₱501.6K
$18.8K ฿632.9K
-57.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.26 ₱2,045
$61.7 ฿2,078
-47.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.87 ₱1,196
$28.25 ฿952
-33.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.1 ₱4,445
$96.0 ฿3,235
-26.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.0 ₱3,485
$86.8 ฿2,926
-36.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$250 ₱15.8K
$721 ฿24.3K
-65.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$166 ₱10.5K
$509 ฿17.1K
-67.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ₱31.0K
$1,950 ฿65.7K
-74.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 ₱21.9K
$1,397 ฿47.1K
-75.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,579 ₱163.5K
$4,192 ฿141.3K
-38.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,132 ₱71.8K
$3,298 ฿111.2K
-65.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$276 ₱17.5K
$492 ฿16.6K
-43.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.92
5.57
24.24%

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

Last update for Ligao City: November 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ligao City
$177
Phuket
$267 50.9% $90
Accommodation & Living
Ligao City
$166
Phuket
$509 206% $343
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ligao City
$161
Phuket
$126 21.5% $35
Eating Out
Ligao City
$80
Phuket
$120 50% $40
Clothing & Footwear
Ligao City
$79
Phuket
$123 54.7% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Ligao City
$42
Phuket
$83 98% $41
Getting Around
Ligao City
$15
Phuket
$66 336% $51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $250 in Ligao City versus $721 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 78% 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 $16 in Ligao City versus $32 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $267 – making Ligao City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Ligao City
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
20:57 8:57 PM
19:57 7:57 PM
1 h behind Ligao City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,955
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 November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 63.38 PHP (100 PHP = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 70.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.73 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ligao City Phuket 2,810 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ligao City
  • 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
Ligao City vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ligao City cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 80%, 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 $1,080 per month in Ligao City and $1,940 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 Ligao City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $250 there versus $721 in Phuket.
How do food prices compare in Ligao City and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Phuket, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is eating out cheaper in Ligao City or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Ligao City and $32 in Phuket. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ligao City or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ligao City, where all-in costs run around $720, than in Phuket at $1,294. In Ligao City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ligao City or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ligao City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ligao City. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Ligao City vs other spots: cost of living compared

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