Cost of Living Comparison Between Manizales and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Manizales and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $766 per month in Manizales vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,743 per month in Manizales vs $2,054 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,721 per month in Manizales vs $2,876 in Phuket, rent included.

Manizales is about 38% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Manizales and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Manizales 44% lower, Phuket 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.42 COP 20.0K

$4.41 ฿147

45.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.11 COP 128.3K

$32.26 ฿1,077

27.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.27 COP 32.0K

$8.93 ฿298

15.01%

Cappuccino

$2.56 COP 7,974

$2.90 ฿96.6

-11.72%

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

$1.37 COP 4,287

$0.88 ฿29.38

55.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 COP 2,594

$0.48 ฿16.06

72.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 COP 4,950

$2.35 ฿78.5

-32.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 COP 8,147

$3.72 ฿124

-29.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 COP 5,038

$1.87 ฿62.3

-13.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.44 COP 7,617

$1.47 ฿48.94

65.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 COP 5,206

$1.55 ฿51.8

7.74%

Eggs

$3.85 COP 12.0K

$2.10 ฿70.1

83.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 COP 24.7K

$19.59 ฿654

-59.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 COP 23.4K

$3.42 ฿114

119.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 COP 33.9K

$11.38 ฿380

-4.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 COP 11.1K

$2.98 ฿99.6

18.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 COP 5,693

$1.68 ฿56.2

8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 COP 6,404

$2.21 ฿73.7

-7.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.85 COP 5,768

$2.16 ฿72.1

-14.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,799

$1.52 ฿50.9

1.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 COP 4,554

$1.34 ฿44.67

8.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 COP 4,335

$1.13 ฿37.67

23.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 COP 3,822

$0.55 ฿18.24

121.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.59 COP 14.3K

$4.26 ฿142

7.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.73 COP 39.7K

$19.09 ฿637

-33.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 COP 4,478

$1.78 ฿59.4

-19.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 COP 8,923

$2.78 ฿92.9

2.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 COP 3,363

$2.23 ฿74.4

-51.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 COP 5,121

$3.03 ฿101

-45.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 COP 5,107

$1.02 ฿34.15

60.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.88 COP 30.8K

$3.89 ฿130

153.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,297

$1.49 ฿49.77

-7.38%

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

$22.3K COP 69.6M

$26.6K ฿887.3K

-16.15%

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

$35.3K COP 110.1M

$27.0K ฿902.2K

30.51%

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

$129 COP 401.8K

$102 ฿3,420

25.67%

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

$12.46 COP 38.9K

$11.33 ฿378

9.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.40 COP 98.0K

$17.40 ฿581

80.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.95 COP 24.8K

$7.69 ฿257

3.38%

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

$489 COP 1.5M

$561 ฿18.7K

-12.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,507 COP 20.3M

$11.5K ฿384.1K

-43.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.4 COP 260.3K

$63.0 ฿2,104

32.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.64 COP 154.9K

$29.52 ฿986

68.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$144 COP 448.8K

$98.0 ฿3,272

46.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 COP 350.2K

$88.5 ฿2,954

26.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,041 COP 3.2M

$2,107 ฿70.3K

-50.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 COP 3.2M

$1,226 ฿40.9K

-15.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,136 COP 6.7M

$3,617 ฿120.7K

-40.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,123 COP 6.6M

$2,603 ฿86.9K

-18.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,213 COP 3.8M

$494 ฿16.5K

145.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

115.44%

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

Last update for Manizales: September 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 146% higher in Manizales, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Manizales versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Manizales vs $274 in Phuket – so Manizales 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

Manizales vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $766 in Manizales, $1,232 in Phuket – roughly 61% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,149 per month in Manizales and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $766 in Manizales and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $489 per month in Manizales and $561 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 Manizales, where all-in costs run around $766, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Manizales 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 $766 in Manizales to $1,232 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 Manizales. 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.