Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandalgovi and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandalgovi and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $490 per month in Mandalgovi vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $759 per month in Mandalgovi vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,027 per month in Mandalgovi vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Mandalgovi is about 61% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mandalgovi and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Mandalgovi 63% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 MNT 9,697

$4.70 ฿153

-42.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.27 MNT 47.5K

$45.37 ฿1,482

-70.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

$8.43 ฿275

-37.37%

Cappuccino

$1.95 MNT 6,969

$2.93 ฿95.6

-33.45%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 MNT 1,939

$0.69 ฿22.40

-21.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 MNT 1,083

$0.37 ฿11.99

-18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.65 MNT 5,887

$2.41 ฿78.6

-31.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 MNT 6,712

$3.72 ฿122

-49.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 MNT 4,127

$2.23 ฿72.9

-48.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 MNT 2,523

$1.83 ฿59.8

-61.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 MNT 3,593

$2.17 ฿70.8

-53.92%

Eggs

$1.80 MNT 6,449

$2.21 ฿72.3

-18.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.95 MNT 32.0K

$19.74 ฿645

-54.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.23 MNT 18.7K

$3.63 ฿119

44.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.60 MNT 16.5K

$13.53 ฿442

-66.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 MNT 8,455

$3.28 ฿107

-28.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 MNT 7,947

$1.61 ฿52.6

37.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.95 MNT 6,958

$2.41 ฿78.6

-19.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 MNT 8,301

$2.08 ฿68.1

11.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 MNT 1,801

$1.53 ฿49.93

-67.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 MNT 3,590

$1.48 ฿48.36

-32.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 MNT 4,541

$0.99 ฿32.29

28.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 MNT 2,164

$0.51 ฿16.67

19.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.35 MNT 4,821

$4.41 ฿144

-69.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.00 MNT 35.7K

$19.38 ฿633

-48.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 MNT 4,804

$1.78 ฿58.1

-24.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 MNT 6,141

$2.71 ฿88.6

-36.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.28 MNT 990

$3.02 ฿98.6

-90.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MNT 1,088

$0.99 ฿32.48

-69.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 MNT 16.4K

$14.10 ฿461

-67.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 MNT 2,929

$1.36 ฿44.51

-39.71%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.7K MNT 70.4M

$28.2K ฿921.1K

-30.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$13.0K MNT 46.6M

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-60.38%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.71 MNT 149.1K

$122 ฿3,975

-65.73%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.43 MNT 26.6K

$13.57 ฿443

-45.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.61 MNT 37.9K

$18.31 ฿598

-42.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.91 MNT 106.9K

$60.2 ฿1,967

-50.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.47 MNT 16.0K

$17.14 ฿560

-73.92%

Cinema Ticket

$2.29 MNT 8,193

$8.69 ฿284

-73.65%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$101 MNT 361.5K

$693 ฿22.6K

-85.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,340 MNT 22.7M

$15.7K ฿512.3K

-59.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$15.92 MNT 56.9K

$59.5 ฿1,944

-73.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.05 MNT 68.1K

$34.77 ฿1,136

-45.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.42 MNT 158.9K

$115 ฿3,743

-61.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$35.73 MNT 127.8K

$83.3 ฿2,720

-57.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$104 MNT 372.4K

$613 ฿20.0K

-83.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$72.6 MNT 259.8K

$437 ฿14.3K

-83.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$224 MNT 800.5K

$2,094 ฿68.4K

-89.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 MNT 477.2K

$1,509 ฿49.3K

-91.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

12.57%

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

Last update for Mandalgovi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $104 in Mandalgovi versus $613 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 $13.00 in Mandalgovi versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $293 – 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

Monthly costs with rent: $490 in Mandalgovi, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 158% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $735 per month in Mandalgovi and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $490 in Mandalgovi and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $101 per month in Mandalgovi and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mandalgovi, where all-in costs run around $490, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Mandalgovi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $490 in Mandalgovi to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

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.