🙂A single person spends $479 per month in Mandalgovi vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $762 per month in Mandalgovi vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,046 per month in Mandalgovi vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Mandalgovi is about 62% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mandalgovi and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Mandalgovi64% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.66MNT 9,536
$4.55฿153
-41.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.50MNT 48.4K
$46.18฿1,554
-70.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.46MNT 19.6K
$8.84฿298
-38.24%
Cappuccino
$1.89MNT 6,790
$3.06฿103
-38.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54MNT 1,952
$0.73฿24.42
-26.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30MNT 1,087
$0.40฿13.40
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.60MNT 5,738
$2.43฿81.8
-34.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97MNT 7,047
$3.78฿127
-47.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20MNT 4,293
$2.26฿76.0
-46.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.72MNT 2,566
$1.81฿60.9
-60.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01MNT 3,613
$2.25฿75.8
-55.11%
Eggs
$1.73MNT 6,214
$2.25฿75.6
-23.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.04MNT 32.4K
$19.51฿656
-53.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.18MNT 18.5K
$3.65฿123
41.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.63MNT 16.6K
$13.05฿439
-64.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34MNT 8,370
$3.23฿109
-27.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.25MNT 8,078
$1.62฿54.4
38.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89MNT 6,763
$2.38฿80.2
-20.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.39MNT 8,574
$2.03฿68.2
17.73%
Potato(1kg)
$0.51MNT 1,814
$1.53฿51.6
-66.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02MNT 3,647
$1.50฿50.5
-32.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30MNT 4,643
$0.98฿32.93
32.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MNT 2,157
$0.52฿17.40
15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.34MNT 4,819
$4.44฿149
-69.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.55MNT 37.8K
$18.32฿616
-42.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34MNT 4,788
$1.86฿62.7
-27.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77MNT 6,341
$2.68฿90.2
-33.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.41฿47.49
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.70฿394
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.28MNT 990
$3.11฿105
-91.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MNT 1,087
$1.04฿35.08
-71.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.82MNT 17.3K
$14.11฿475
-65.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77MNT 2,764
$1.31฿44.13
-41.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9KMNT 71.4M
$27.8K฿936.0K
-28.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.2KMNT 47.5M
$33.2K฿1.1M
-60.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.07MNT 147.2K
$122฿4,120
-66.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.63MNT 27.3K
$13.59฿457
-43.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.39MNT 37.2K
$18.70฿629
-44.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.77MNT 106.7K
$60.5฿2,035
-50.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.54MNT 16.3K
$16.98฿572
-73.26%
Cinema Ticket
$2.30MNT 8,246
$9.07฿305
-74.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$104MNT 372.2K
$706฿23.8K
-85.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,450MNT 23.1M
$15.8K฿531.8K
-59.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.99MNT 57.3K
$58.6฿1,970
-72.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.15MNT 68.6K
$35.36฿1,190
-45.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.27MNT 158.6K
$115฿3,885
-61.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.75MNT 128.1K
$83.7฿2,818
-57.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$101MNT 362.1K
$626฿21.1K
-83.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$74.3MNT 266.3K
$445฿15.0K
-83.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$223MNT 800.1K
$2,040฿68.7K
-89.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133MNT 477.0K
$1,492฿50.2K
-91.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,483฿117.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,577฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$500฿16.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
5.33
12.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mandalgovi: July 11, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $101 in Mandalgovi versus $626 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 $14.00 in Mandalgovi versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $289 – making Mandalgovi 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
Mandalgovi vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mandalgovi and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $479 in Mandalgovi, $1,250 in Phuket – roughly 161% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mandalgovi compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $718 per month in Mandalgovi and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mandalgovi and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mandalgovi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mandalgovi or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $479 in Mandalgovi and $1,250 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mandalgovi and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $104 per month in Mandalgovi and $706 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mandalgovi, where all-in costs run around $479, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Mandalgovi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mandalgovi and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $479 in Mandalgovi to $1,250 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mandalgovi or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Mandalgovi and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Mandalgovi. 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.
Mandalgovi vs other spots: cost of living compared