ðA single person spends $845 per month in Pangasinan vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $1,252 per month in Pangasinan vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $1,658 per month in Pangasinan vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
ðPangasinan is about 31% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðBoth Pangasinan and Phuket are more affordable than the global median â Pangasinan37% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Pangasinan
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.35âą82.6
$4.63āļŋ151
-70.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.91âą912
$46.84āļŋ1,523
-68.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.03âą185
$8.84āļŋ287
-65.72%
Cappuccino
$0.94âą57.4
$3.00āļŋ97.4
-68.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46âą28.16
$0.74āļŋ24.11
-37.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26âą15.88
$0.37āļŋ11.88
-29.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.36âą82.9
$2.44āļŋ79.3
-44.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16âą132
$3.61āļŋ117
-40.17%
ð Groceries & Markets
Pangasinan
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21âą74.0
$2.26āļŋ73.5
-46.46%
White Bread(500g)
$0.93âą56.8
$1.84āļŋ59.8
-49.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83âą50.6
$2.24āļŋ73.0
-62.95%
Eggs
$2.27âą139
$2.32āļŋ75.3
-2.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.92âą485
$19.67āļŋ639
-59.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.38âą268
$3.65āļŋ119
20.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.74âą474
$13.10āļŋ426
-40.92%
Apples(1kg)
$4.46âą273
$3.39āļŋ110
31.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00âą122
$1.64āļŋ53.4
21.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59âą158
$2.41āļŋ78.5
7.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.28âą140
$2.03āļŋ66.0
12.32%
Potato(1kg)
$3.39âą207
$1.56āļŋ50.6
117.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.84âą174
$1.50āļŋ48.66
89.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13âą69.0
$1.02āļŋ33.30
10.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00âą61.5
$0.49āļŋ15.91
104.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96âą181
$4.45āļŋ145
-33.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.04âą492
$18.88āļŋ614
-57.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25âą76.5
$1.78āļŋ57.7
-29.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30âą141
$2.75āļŋ89.5
-16.36%
ð Getting Around
Pangasinan
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28âą17.29
$1.40āļŋ45.54
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48āļŋ373
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77âą46.99
$3.12āļŋ101
-75.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.13âą7.67
$1.00āļŋ32.48
-87.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.50âą214
$14.09āļŋ458
-75.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11âą67.8
$1.35āļŋ43.93
-17.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.3Kâą2.0M
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
22.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1Kâą1.4M
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-32.97%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pangasinan
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173âą10.6K
$125āļŋ4,063
38.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.91âą1,646
$13.57āļŋ441
98.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.75âą2,187
$18.52āļŋ602
93.03%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Pangasinan
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.68âą2,060
$61.5āļŋ1,999
-45.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.50âą276
$16.84āļŋ547
-73.28%
Cinema Ticket
$8.01âą490
$9.19āļŋ299
-12.84%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Pangasinan
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153âą9,370
$698āļŋ22.7K
-78.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,366âą267.1K
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
-72.00%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Pangasinan
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6âą3,710
$57.8āļŋ1,878
4.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.42âą2,167
$35.24āļŋ1,146
0.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.7âą5,183
$113āļŋ3,677
-25.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.4âą3,265
$86.4āļŋ2,808
-38.23%
ð Accommodation & Living
Pangasinan
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271âą16.6K
$616āļŋ20.0K
-56.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180âą11.0K
$446āļŋ14.5K
-59.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588âą36.0K
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
-71.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$400âą24.5K
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
-73.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,066âą126.4K
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
-45.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Pangasinan
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$524āļŋ17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
5.33
25.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pangasinan: April 25, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $271 in Pangasinan versus $616 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Pangasinan versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $218 vs $292 â making Pangasinan 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
Pangasinan vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Pangasinan?
Yes â Phuket is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,268 per month in Pangasinan and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pangasinan, 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 Pangasinan or Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Pangasinan and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Pangasinan and Phuket?
Groceries cost about 34% 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 Pangasinan or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pangasinan, where all-in costs run around $845, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Pangasinan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pangasinan or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pangasinan â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Pangasinan 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Pangasinan. 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.
Pangasinan vs other spots: cost of living compared