Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pagadian and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Pagadian: $717 a month against $1,207 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $5,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pagadian
🇵🇭 Philippines
$717
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $717 in Pagadian versus $1,207 in Phuket.

  • Pagadian $717
  • Phuket $1,207

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,100 in Pagadian versus $2,037 in Phuket.

  • Pagadian $1,100
  • Phuket $2,037

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,483 in Pagadian versus $2,867 in Phuket.

  • Pagadian $1,483
  • Phuket $2,867

Living in Pagadian costs roughly 41% less than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pagadian 47% lower, Phuket 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pagadian
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.81 ₱240
$4.58 ฿153
-16.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.55 ₱1,042
$32.48 ฿1,086
-49.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.77 ₱174
$8.55 ฿286
-67.60%
Cappuccino
$1.93 ₱121
$2.72 ฿91.0
-29.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ₱54.7
$0.94 ฿31.25
-7.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 ₱14.39
$0.49 ฿16.39
-53.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.42 ₱89.3
$2.59 ฿86.6
-45.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ₱125
$3.83 ฿128
-48.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pagadian
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 ₱107
$1.74 ฿58.1
-2.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.05 ₱65.8
$1.43 ฿47.82
-26.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ₱58.5
$1.53 ฿51.0
-39.22%
Eggs
$1.63 ₱102
$2.17 ฿72.7
-24.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.93 ₱310
$19.15 ฿640
-74.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 ₱258
$3.30 ฿110
24.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.05 ₱381
$11.14 ฿372
-45.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 ₱163
$2.95 ฿98.5
-11.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 ₱90.8
$1.68 ฿56.1
-14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 ₱159
$2.30 ฿76.8
10.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.00 ₱62.8
$2.13 ฿71.3
-53.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.77 ₱111
$1.53 ฿51.1
15.69%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 ₱123
$1.36 ฿45.55
44.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 ₱56.7
$1.12 ฿37.44
-19.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₱40.28
$0.55 ฿18.24
16.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.12 ₱197
$4.26 ฿142
-26.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.03 ₱506
$18.19 ฿608
-55.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₱64.2
$1.74 ฿58.2
-41.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71 ₱107
$2.79 ฿93.3
-38.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Pagadian
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱16.36
$2.22 ฿74.1
-88.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.91 ₱687
$22.06 ฿737
-50.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 ₱46.09
$2.91 ฿97.3
-74.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₱15.71
$1.01 ฿33.79
-75.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.89 ₱119
$3.83 ฿128
-50.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.06 ₱66.9
$1.49 ฿49.85
-28.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K ₱1.2M
$26.7K ฿891.6K
-28.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ₱1.1M
$26.7K ฿892.7K
-33.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pagadian
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ₱7,687
$99.4 ฿3,321
22.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.52 ₱977
$11.28 ฿377
37.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.08 ₱1,516
$17.36 ฿580
38.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pagadian
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.90 ₱2,260
$52.3 ฿1,747
-31.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.29 ₱270
$10.85 ฿362
-60.46%
Cinema Ticket
$5.59 ₱352
$7.57 ฿253
-26.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pagadian
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$129 ₱8,114
$558 ฿18.7K
-76.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,823 ₱429.6K
$11.5K ฿383.9K
-40.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pagadian
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.11 ₱2,148
$62.9 ฿2,102
-45.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.27 ₱1,088
$28.58 ฿955
-39.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 ₱4,719
$96.1 ฿3,213
-22.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.0 ₱3,527
$88.1 ฿2,943
-36.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pagadian
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$263 ₱16.5K
$729 ฿24.4K
-63.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$161 ₱10.2K
$460 ฿15.4K
-64.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$509 ₱32.0K
$2,096 ฿70.0K
-75.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$358 ₱22.5K
$1,222 ฿40.8K
-70.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,576 ₱162.2K
$3,459 ฿115.6K
-25.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$989 ₱62.2K
$2,489 ฿83.2K
-60.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pagadian
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$493 ฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
5.57
21.90%

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

Last update for Pagadian: October 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Pagadian
$173
Phuket
$268 54.7% $95
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pagadian
$162
Phuket
$128 20.8% $34
Accommodation & Living
Pagadian
$161
Phuket
$460 185% $298
Clothing & Footwear
Pagadian
$82
Phuket
$124 51.2% $42
Eating Out
Pagadian
$77
Phuket
$121 56.8% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Pagadian
$47
Phuket
$67 43.2% $20
Getting Around
Pagadian
$14
Phuket
$39 179% $25

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Pagadian and $729 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17.00 in Pagadian vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $268 per month, with Pagadian cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Pagadian
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
06:39 6:39 AM
05:39 5:39 AM
1 h behind Pagadian
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
199,060
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pagadian Phuket 2,760 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Pagadian
  • 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
Pagadian vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Pagadian and in Phuket?
Pagadian and Phuket differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($717 vs $1,207 including rent). Pagadian is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Pagadian compared to Phuket?
You'd need roughly $1,075 in Pagadian and $1,811 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Pagadian and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $263 in Pagadian versus $729 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Pagadian – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Pagadian or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $717 per month in Pagadian versus $1,207 in Phuket – a 68% 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 $717 in Pagadian versus $1,207 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pagadian but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Pagadian the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Pagadian 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 Pagadian or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Pagadian 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: Pagadian or Phuket?
Expats usually find Pagadian gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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