Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandalgovi and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Mandalgovi: $642 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mandalgovi, Mongolia
Phuket, Thailand
Mandalgovi
🇲🇳 Mongolia
$642
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $642 per month in Mandalgovi vs $1,278 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Mandalgovi $642
  • Phuket $1,278

A couple spends around $1,057 per month in Mandalgovi vs $2,216 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Mandalgovi $1,057
  • Phuket $2,216

A family of three spends $1,472 per month in Mandalgovi vs $3,154 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Mandalgovi $1,472
  • Phuket $3,154

Mandalgovi is about 50% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Mandalgovi and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Mandalgovi 53% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.44 MNT 19.6K
$4.47 ฿151
21.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.52 MNT 117.0K
$32.41 ฿1,092
0.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.54 MNT 19.9K
$8.81 ฿297
-37.12%
Cappuccino
$2.38 MNT 8,572
$2.83 ฿95.3
-15.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 MNT 3,228
$0.87 ฿29.37
3.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 MNT 2,176
$0.49 ฿16.64
22.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 MNT 8,419
$2.56 ฿86.2
-8.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 MNT 11.8K
$3.68 ฿124
-10.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 MNT 5,294
$1.66 ฿55.9
-11.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 MNT 3,700
$1.46 ฿49.25
-29.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 MNT 7,451
$1.50 ฿50.4
38.00%
Eggs
$2.14 MNT 7,716
$2.09 ฿70.4
2.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.52 MNT 45.1K
$19.07 ฿642
-34.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.78 MNT 17.2K
$3.30 ฿111
44.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.81 MNT 24.5K
$10.91 ฿368
-37.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 MNT 11.3K
$2.93 ฿98.7
7.51%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 MNT 8,746
$1.69 ฿56.9
43.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.70 MNT 13.3K
$2.25 ฿75.7
64.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.11 MNT 11.2K
$2.08 ฿70.0
49.52%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 MNT 2,697
$1.51 ฿50.9
-50.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 MNT 3,917
$1.38 ฿46.47
-21.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.71 MNT 6,170
$1.07 ฿35.91
59.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 MNT 2,610
$0.52 ฿17.49
40.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.69 MNT 6,092
$4.20 ฿142
-59.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.34 MNT 37.2K
$18.79 ฿633
-44.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 MNT 5,395
$1.82 ฿61.4
-17.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 MNT 6,419
$2.84 ฿95.7
-37.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.45 ฿48.93
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$56.7 ฿1,909
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 MNT 1,822
$3.02 ฿102
-83.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 MNT 1,849
$1.02 ฿34.29
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 MNT 22.2K
$3.69 ฿124
66.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 MNT 3,984
$1.47 ฿49.70
-24.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K MNT 96.0M
$26.8K ฿902.4K
-0.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K MNT 124.6M
$26.7K ฿899.5K
29.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.7 MNT 254.4K
$96.4 ฿3,247
-26.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.75 MNT 27.9K
$11.26 ฿380
-31.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.46 MNT 48.5K
$16.85 ฿568
-20.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$67.2 ฿2,266
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.73 ฿361
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.19 MNT 15.1K
$7.50 ฿253
-44.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$786 MNT 2.8M
$476 ฿16.0K
65.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,345 MNT 30.0M
$11.3K ฿379.6K
-25.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.4 MNT 300.0K
$62.4 ฿2,102
33.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.09 MNT 162.3K
$28.41 ฿957
58.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 MNT 376.2K
$94.3 ฿3,178
10.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$189 MNT 679.2K
$85.8 ฿2,892
119.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$716 ฿24.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$491 ฿16.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,927 ฿64.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,431 ฿48.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,175 ฿140.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$3,045 ฿102.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandalgovi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$502 ฿16.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.32
5.57
85.28%

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

Last update for Mandalgovi: October 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Mandalgovi
$236
Phuket
$266 12.8% $30
Clothing & Footwear
Mandalgovi
$190
Phuket
$122 35.8% $68
Eating Out
Mandalgovi
$113
Phuket
$122 7.7% $8.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandalgovi
$92
Phuket
$124 35.4% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Mandalgovi
$8.4 *
Phuket
$82 880% $74
Getting Around
Mandalgovi
$3.1 *
Phuket
$71 2192% $68
Accommodation & Living
Mandalgovi
- *
Phuket
$491

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33 in Mandalgovi versus $32 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Mandalgovi vs $266 in Phuket – so Mandalgovi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇳 Mandalgovi
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
10:17 10:17 AM
09:17 9:17 AM
1 h behind Mandalgovi
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
10,888
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to MNT – Mongolian Tögrög Converter

Mongolian Tögrög exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,599 MNT (10,000 MNT = 2.78 USD). 1 EUR = 4,006 MNT (10,000 MNT = 2.5 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 33.7 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mandalgovi Phuket 4,280 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mandalgovi
  • 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
Mandalgovi vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mandalgovi and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $642 in Mandalgovi, $1,278 in Phuket – Mandalgovi comes out roughly 50% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.
What salary covers living expenses in Mandalgovi compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $963 per month in Mandalgovi and $1,917 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mandalgovi or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $642 in Mandalgovi and $1,278 in Phuket. That makes Mandalgovi about 50% cheaper.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mandalgovi and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $786 per month in Mandalgovi and $476 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 $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Mandalgovi, where all-in costs run around $642, than in Phuket at $1,278. 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 $642 in Mandalgovi to $1,278 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Mandalgovi vs other spots: cost of living compared

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