πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Manavgat versus $1,261 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,609 in Manavgat versus $2,286 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,184 in Manavgat versus $3,310 in Phuket.
πLiving in Manavgat costs roughly 18% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Manavgat23% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Manavgat
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.97βΊ323
$4.56ΰΈΏ149
52.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.08βΊ1,253
$46.63ΰΈΏ1,519
-41.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.17βΊ193
$8.47ΰΈΏ276
-50.77%
Cappuccino
$2.73βΊ126
$3.03ΰΈΏ98.6
-9.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72βΊ79.6
$0.69ΰΈΏ22.45
149.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28βΊ13.01
$0.37ΰΈΏ11.92
-24.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.77βΊ128
$2.49ΰΈΏ81.0
11.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65βΊ122
$3.66ΰΈΏ119
-27.60%
π Groceries & Markets
Manavgat
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84βΊ38.82
$2.18ΰΈΏ71.0
-61.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01βΊ46.59
$1.90ΰΈΏ62.0
-46.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11βΊ51.3
$2.20ΰΈΏ71.6
-49.55%
Eggs
$1.77βΊ81.9
$2.22ΰΈΏ72.4
-20.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.11βΊ375
$19.99ΰΈΏ651
-59.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.50βΊ254
$3.66ΰΈΏ119
50.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.38βΊ897
$13.25ΰΈΏ432
46.26%
Apples(1kg)
$0.66βΊ30.69
$3.23ΰΈΏ105
-79.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16βΊ99.9
$1.70ΰΈΏ55.3
27.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.65βΊ30.28
$2.39ΰΈΏ78.0
-72.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.10βΊ50.9
$2.08ΰΈΏ67.7
-47.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.60βΊ27.68
$1.59ΰΈΏ51.8
-62.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.26βΊ11.94
$1.48ΰΈΏ48.31
-82.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33βΊ15.26
$1.03ΰΈΏ33.54
-67.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34βΊ15.95
$0.52ΰΈΏ16.83
-34.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.05βΊ95.0
$4.25ΰΈΏ138
-51.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.93βΊ320
$18.79ΰΈΏ612
-63.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68βΊ77.9
$1.76ΰΈΏ57.2
-4.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08βΊ96.1
$2.76ΰΈΏ89.8
-24.64%
π Getting Around
Manavgat
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67βΊ31.07
$1.36ΰΈΏ44.32
-50.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.15βΊ1,395
$11.36ΰΈΏ370
165.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10βΊ51.0
$3.14ΰΈΏ102
-64.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11βΊ51.3
$1.04ΰΈΏ33.74
6.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66βΊ354
$13.77ΰΈΏ448
-44.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21βΊ55.9
$1.34ΰΈΏ43.79
-9.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.4KβΊ1.9M
$27.7KΰΈΏ901.4K
49.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.7KβΊ2.0M
$33.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
26.01%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manavgat
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$48.16βΊ2,228
$124ΰΈΏ4,025
-61.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.09βΊ374
$13.52ΰΈΏ440
-40.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.27βΊ707
$18.69ΰΈΏ609
-18.30%
π Sport & Entertainment
Manavgat
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.65βΊ1,973
$61.8ΰΈΏ2,013
-31.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.39βΊ944
$17.25ΰΈΏ562
18.20%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41βΊ296
$9.14ΰΈΏ298
-29.87%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Manavgat
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$599βΊ27.7K
$703ΰΈΏ22.9K
-14.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,919βΊ412.6K
$15.9KΰΈΏ517.0K
-43.81%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Manavgat
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.28βΊ2,234
$59.5ΰΈΏ1,937
-18.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.03βΊ1,251
$35.07ΰΈΏ1,142
-22.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110βΊ5,074
$115ΰΈΏ3,754
-4.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111βΊ5,119
$84.1ΰΈΏ2,737
31.64%
π Accommodation & Living
Manavgat
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$519βΊ24.0K
$619ΰΈΏ20.1K
-16.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$398βΊ18.4K
$433ΰΈΏ14.1K
-8.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$901βΊ41.7K
$2,062ΰΈΏ67.2K
-56.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723βΊ33.5K
$1,511ΰΈΏ49.2K
-52.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,144βΊ52.9K
$3,646ΰΈΏ118.7K
-68.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$919βΊ42.5K
$2,626ΰΈΏ85.5K
-64.99%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Manavgat
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$706βΊ32.6K
$507ΰΈΏ16.5K
39.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
20
5.33
275.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Manavgat: June 8, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $519 in Manavgat and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Manavgat pays 39% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $27.00 in Manavgat vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $293 per month, with Manavgat 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
Manavgat vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Manavgat and Phuket?
Manavgat and Phuket differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $1,261 including rent). Manavgat is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Manavgat or Phuket?
Manavgat pays 39% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Manavgat and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $519 in Manavgat versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Manavgat β a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Manavgat or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Manavgat versus $1,261 in Phuket β a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,034 in Manavgat versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Manavgat but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Manavgat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Manavgat and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Manavgat or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Manavgat 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: Manavgat or Phuket?
Expats usually find Manavgat gentler on the wallet β expenses run 22% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.