🙂A single person spends $736 per month in Ligao City vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,106 per month in Ligao City vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,476 per month in Ligao City vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Ligao City is about 40% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ligao City and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Ligao City46% lower, Phuket10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.42₱214
$4.41฿147
-22.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.55₱1,037
$32.26฿1,073
-48.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.74₱172
$8.93฿297
-69.32%
Cappuccino
$2.24₱141
$2.90฿96.3
-22.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59₱36.90
$0.88฿29.27
-32.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31₱19.31
$0.48฿16.00
-35.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08₱67.5
$2.35฿78.2
-54.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82₱114
$3.72฿124
-51.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59₱99.9
$1.87฿62.0
-14.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15₱71.8
$1.47฿48.75
-21.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91₱57.3
$1.55฿51.6
-41.29%
Eggs
$1.92₱120
$2.10฿69.9
-8.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.27₱331
$19.59฿651
-73.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.19₱262
$3.42฿114
22.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.88₱431
$11.38฿378
-39.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31₱145
$2.98฿99.2
-22.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58₱98.9
$1.68฿56.0
-5.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.35₱147
$2.21฿73.5
6.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13₱71.0
$2.16฿71.9
-47.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12₱133
$1.52฿50.7
39.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91₱120
$1.34฿44.49
42.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80₱50.2
$1.13฿37.53
-29.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55₱34.49
$0.55฿18.17
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.90₱182
$4.26฿142
-31.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.00₱502
$19.09฿635
-58.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96₱60.2
$1.78฿59.2
-46.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99₱125
$2.78฿92.5
-28.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₱17.59
$2.23฿74.1
-87.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.60₱664
$22.74฿756
-53.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72₱44.99
$3.03฿101
-76.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₱17.13
$1.02฿34.02
-73.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.89₱119
$3.89฿129
-51.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₱72.3
$1.49฿49.57
-22.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K₱1.3M
$26.6K฿883.8K
-20.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K₱1.3M
$27.0K฿898.7K
-21.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123₱7,713
$102฿3,407
20.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.00₱940
$11.33฿377
32.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12₱1,511
$17.40฿578
38.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.73₱1,988
$52.1฿1,732
-39.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.95₱310
$11.07฿368
-55.28%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05₱316
$7.69฿256
-34.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$133₱8,352
$561฿18.6K
-76.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,896₱494.8K
$11.5K฿382.6K
-31.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.53₱1,976
$63.0฿2,096
-49.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.21₱1,204
$29.52฿982
-34.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6₱4,552
$98.0฿3,259
-25.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.1₱3,514
$88.5฿2,943
-36.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262₱16.4K
$738฿24.5K
-64.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171₱10.7K
$482฿16.0K
-64.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505₱31.6K
$2,107฿70.0K
-76.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353₱22.1K
$1,226฿40.8K
-71.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,623₱164.3K
$3,617฿120.3K
-27.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,016₱63.7K
$2,603฿86.5K
-60.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ligao City
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$279₱17.5K
$494฿16.4K
-43.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.75
5.57
21.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ligao City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Ligao City 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.
💰Salaries run about 77% 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 $17.00 in Ligao City versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $274 – making Ligao City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Phuket cheaper than Ligao City?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,104 per month in Ligao City and $1,847 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ligao City and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 55% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Ligao City or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Ligao City and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ligao City or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ligao City, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 safer, Ligao City or Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ligao City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, 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