Cost of Living Comparison Between Mangaf and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Mangaf and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $1,066 per month in Mangaf vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Mangaf vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,657 per month in Mangaf vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Mangaf is about 13% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mangaf and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Mangaf22% lower, Phuket10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mangaf
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.47KWD 1.99
$4.41฿147
46.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.8KWD 19.57
$32.26฿1,077
97.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.55KWD 2.01
$8.93฿298
-26.65%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.26KWD 1.00
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94KWD 1.52
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.98KWD 1.53
$2.90฿96.6
71.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34KWD 0.10
$0.88฿29.38
-61.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29KWD 0.09
$0.48฿16.06
-39.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.35฿78.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.72฿124
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mangaf
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65KWD 0.51
$1.87฿62.3
-11.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53KWD 0.47
$1.47฿48.94
4.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97KWD 0.60
$1.55฿51.8
27.10%
Eggs
$2.13KWD 0.65
$2.10฿70.1
1.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35KWD 1.34
$19.59฿654
-77.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.79KWD 2.09
$3.42฿114
98.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.35KWD 3.18
$11.38฿380
-9.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.44KWD 0.75
$2.98฿99.6
-18.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91KWD 0.59
$1.68฿56.2
13.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81KWD 0.55
$2.21฿73.7
-18.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55KWD 0.48
$2.16฿72.1
-28.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37KWD 0.42
$1.52฿50.9
-9.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45KWD 0.44
$1.34฿44.67
8.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.36KWD 0.72
$1.13฿37.67
108.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47KWD 0.14
$0.55฿18.24
-14.55%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.17KWD 0.97
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02KWD 0.31
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44KWD 0.44
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.73KWD 0.84
$4.26฿142
-35.92%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$19.09฿637
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78฿59.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.78฿92.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mangaf
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.23฿74.4
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.74฿759
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.98KWD 1.53
$3.03฿101
64.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.33KWD 1.02
$1.02฿34.15
226.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.49KWD 5.06
$3.89฿130
323.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33KWD 0.10
$1.49฿49.77
-77.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4KKWD 6,574
$26.6K฿887.3K
-19.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KKWD 6,266
$27.0K฿902.2K
-24.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mangaf
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.4KWD 20.37
$102฿3,420
-35.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.44KWD 6.89
$11.33฿378
98.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.05KWD 9.22
$17.40฿581
72.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mangaf
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.93KWD 15.02
$52.1฿1,738
-6.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.07฿370
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.14KWD 3.42
$7.69฿257
44.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mangaf
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303KWD 92.9
$561฿18.7K
-46.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,315KWD 2,860
$11.5K฿384.1K
-19.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mangaf
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.02KWD 11.67
$63.0฿2,104
-39.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.62KWD 12.16
$29.52฿986
34.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1KWD 30.42
$98.0฿3,272
1.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.6KWD 27.51
$88.5฿2,954
1.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mangaf
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$241KWD 74.1
$738฿24.6K
-67.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$427KWD 131
$482฿16.1K
-11.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,107฿70.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,226฿40.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,617฿120.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,603฿86.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mangaf
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
5.57
17.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mangaf: September 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $241 in Mangaf 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Mangaf versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $187 in Mangaf vs $274 in Phuket – so Mangaf wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Mangaf vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Mangaf?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 16%, 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 $1,599 per month in Mangaf 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 Mangaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Mangaf or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Mangaf and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mangaf and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 46% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mangaf or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mangaf, where all-in costs run around $1,066, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Mangaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mangaf or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mangaf – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mangaf 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 Mangaf. 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.