Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cauayan City Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cauayan City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $679 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $1,036 in Cauayan City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $1,392 in Cauayan City, rent included.

Phuket costs about 80% more than Cauayan City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Cauayan City are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Cauayan City 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

$3.57 ₱215

26.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

$13.15 ₱792

254.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

$2.70 ₱163

214.44%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

$2.36 ₱142

30.51%

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

$0.68 ฿22.07

$0.31 ₱18.51

119.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

$0.33 ₱19.96

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

$1.03 ₱62.2

135.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

$1.74 ₱105

108.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

$1.72 ₱104

27.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

$1.25 ₱75.5

44.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

$0.91 ₱54.7

145.05%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

$1.48 ₱89.0

51.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

$4.87 ₱293

302.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

$3.91 ₱235

-4.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

$6.92 ₱417

94.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

$2.11 ₱127

59.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

$0.83 ₱49.72

95.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

$2.19 ₱132

10.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

$0.70 ₱41.93

184.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

$0.91 ₱55.0

68.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

$1.36 ₱82.0

6.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

$0.67 ₱40.39

50.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

$0.74 ₱44.55

-35.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

$2.61 ₱157

63.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

$9.00 ₱542

112.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

$1.07 ₱64.2

71.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

$2.14 ₱129

28.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

$0.28 ₱16.94

407.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

$0.87 ₱52.1

244.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

$0.24 ₱14.48

337.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

$2.45 ₱148

467.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

$1.10 ₱66.2

17.27%

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

$28.0K ฿911.1K

$17.5K ₱1.1M

59.94%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$20.5K ₱1.2M

63.18%

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

$122 ฿3,964

$87.0 ₱5,241

40.17%

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

$13.93 ฿453

$34.93 ₱2,104

-60.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

$26.52 ₱1,597

-28.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

$34.35 ₱2,069

78.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

$4.45 ₱268

278.43%

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

$4.35 ₱262

104.37%

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

$691 ฿22.5K

$53.1 ₱3,200

1201.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

$1,797 ₱108.2K

799.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

$26.21 ₱1,578

120.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

$21.15 ₱1,274

67.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

$54.2 ₱3,263

109.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

$47.23 ₱2,845

75.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

$267 ₱16.1K

126.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

$176 ₱10.6K

153.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

$592 ₱35.7K

242.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

$401 ₱24.1K

272.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

$2,394 ₱144.2K

49.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

$1,144 ₱68.9K

125.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

$216 ₱13.0K

133.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

4.5

18.44%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Cauayan City: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $267 in Cauayan City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 134% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $13.00 in Cauayan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $167 – making Cauayan City 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

Phuket vs Cauayan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,223 in Phuket, $679 in Cauayan City – roughly 80% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,835 per month in Phuket and $1,019 in Cauayan City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cauayan City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,223 in Phuket and $679 in Cauayan City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $691 per month in Phuket and $53.1 in Cauayan City. 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 Cauayan City, where all-in costs run around $679, than in Phuket at $1,223. In Cauayan City 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 $679 in Cauayan City to $1,223 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 Cauayan City. 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.