ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $725 in Binangonan.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,213 in Binangonan.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,702 in Binangonan.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 70% more expensive than Binangonan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Binangonan46% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Binangonan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$4.86âą300
-4.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$21.29âą1,313
120.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$3.06âą189
188.89%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.65âą163
13.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.97âą59.9
-23.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.34âą21.15
8.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.40âą86.5
74.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.69âą166
34.20%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Binangonan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.94âą120
16.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.24âą76.7
48.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.03âą63.5
117.48%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$2.02âą125
14.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$7.09âą438
177.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$4.26âą263
-14.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$8.62âą532
51.97%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$3.52âą217
-3.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.58âą97.6
3.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.86âą176
-15.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.64âą101
23.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.80âą173
-44.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$3.08âą190
-51.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.65âą102
-38.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.68âą42.12
-27.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$3.29âą203
35.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.33âą452
157.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.52âą93.5
17.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.01âą124
36.82%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Binangonan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.26âą15.88
438.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$7.16âą442
60.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$0.87âą53.6
258.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.22âą13.53
354.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$2.10âą130
570.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.09âą67.3
23.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$25.6Kâą1.6M
6.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$20.8Kâą1.3M
58.62%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Binangonan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$137âą8,431
-8.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$22.01âą1,357
-38.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$27.71âą1,709
-33.16%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Binangonan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$33.57âą2,070
83.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$4.34âą268
288.02%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$6.72âą414
36.76%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Binangonan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$82.7âą5,100
744.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$2,760âą170.2K
464.92%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Binangonan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$31.73âą1,957
82.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$29.41âą1,814
19.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$82.0âą5,060
37.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$46.75âą2,883
84.77%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Binangonan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$268âą16.6K
129.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$73.9âą4,561
503.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$580âą35.7K
253.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$393âą24.2K
280.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,281âą140.7K
65.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Binangonan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$435âą26.8K
20.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.13
-34.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Binangonan: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $268 in Binangonan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $21.00 in Binangonan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $215 per month, with Binangonan 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
Phuket vs Binangonan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Binangonan cheaper than Phuket?
Binangonan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Binangonan?
Phuket pays 20% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Binangonan?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $268 in Binangonan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $82.7 in Binangonan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Binangonan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Binangonan?
At $725 in Binangonan versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Binangonan but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Binangonan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Binangonan more family-friendly?
For families, Binangonan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Binangonan?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Binangonan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Binangonan gentler on the wallet â expenses run 70% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.