Cost of Living Comparison Between Naga and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Naga and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $770 in Naga versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,117 in Naga versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,463 in Naga versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Naga costs roughly 39% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Naga 43% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Naga
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.65 ₱222
$4.56 ฿149
-19.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.76 ₱1,078
$46.63 ฿1,519
-61.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.40 ₱206
$8.47 ฿276
-59.86%
Cappuccino
$2.44 ₱148
$3.03 ฿98.6
-19.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ₱46.49
$0.69 ฿22.45
11.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₱24.15
$0.37 ฿11.92
8.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.37 ₱83.0
$2.49 ฿81.0
-44.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ₱131
$3.66 ฿119
-41.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Naga
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 ₱115
$2.18 ฿71.0
-12.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 ₱76.9
$1.90 ฿62.0
-33.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 ₱51.4
$2.20 ฿71.6
-61.36%
Eggs
$1.70 ₱103
$2.22 ฿72.4
-23.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.00 ₱486
$19.99 ฿651
-59.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 ₱255
$3.66 ฿119
14.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.87 ₱478
$13.25 ฿432
-40.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 ₱174
$3.23 ฿105
-11.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 ₱93.7
$1.70 ฿55.3
-9.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.58 ₱157
$2.39 ฿78.0
7.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ₱93.9
$2.08 ฿67.7
-25.48%
Potato (1kg)
$2.31 ₱140
$1.59 ฿51.8
45.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.50 ₱152
$1.48 ฿48.31
68.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 ₱64.3
$1.03 ฿33.54
2.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 ₱44.19
$0.52 ฿16.83
40.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52 ₱153
$4.25 ฿138
-40.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.80 ₱230
$18.79 ฿612
-79.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 ₱69.8
$1.76 ฿57.2
-34.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 ₱124
$2.76 ฿89.8
-26.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Naga
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱15.58
$1.36 ฿44.32
-80.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.36 ฿370
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 ₱51.0
$3.14 ฿102
-73.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱13.27
$1.04 ฿33.74
-78.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.07 ₱126
$13.77 ฿448
-84.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₱69.9
$1.34 ฿43.79
-14.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K ₱1.6M
$27.7K ฿901.4K
-2.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K ₱1.2M
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-40.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Naga
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 ₱6,701
$124 ฿4,025
-10.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.14 ₱1,951
$13.52 ฿440
137.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.84 ₱1,630
$18.69 ฿609
43.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Naga
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.57 ₱2,038
$61.8 ฿2,013
-45.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25 ฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ₱359
$9.14 ฿298
-35.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Naga
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$152 ₱9,242
$703 ฿22.9K
-78.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,349 ₱264.1K
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-72.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Naga
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.62 ₱2,831
$59.5 ฿1,937
-21.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.17 ₱1,589
$35.07 ฿1,142
-25.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.8 ₱4,544
$115 ฿3,754
-35.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.3 ₱3,236
$84.1 ฿2,737
-36.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Naga
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$262 ₱15.9K
$619 ฿20.1K
-57.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 ₱10.6K
$433 ฿14.1K
-59.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$326 ₱19.8K
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-84.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$268 ₱16.3K
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-82.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Naga
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$145 ₱8,823
$507 ฿16.5K
-71.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
5.33
25.14%

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

Last update for Naga: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Naga and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 249% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Naga vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $293 per month, with Naga cheaper across the board.

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
Naga vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Naga and Phuket?
Naga and Phuket differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($770 vs $1,261 including rent). Naga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Phuket earns 249% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Naga and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Naga versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Naga or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $770 per month in Naga versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $770 in Naga versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Naga but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Naga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Naga and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Naga or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Naga and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Naga or Phuket?
Expats usually find Naga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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