Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and CaviteCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cavite
Monthly Cost of Living
ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $590 in Cavite, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $995 in Cavite, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,400 in Cavite, rent included.
ðPhuket costs about 109% more than Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth Phuket and Cavite are more affordable than the global median â Phuket8% lower, Cavite56% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Cavite
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$2.61âą161
77.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$13.42âą828
249.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$2.57âą159
243.97%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.94âą120
54.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.67âą41.36
10.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.31âą19.05
19.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.23âą75.8
98.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$1.72âą106
109.88%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cavite
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.72âą106
31.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.24âą76.5
48.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.00âą61.9
124.00%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$2.16âą133
7.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$7.43âą459
164.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$3.87âą239
-5.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$6.91âą426
89.58%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.62âą161
29.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.30âą80.1
26.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.29âą141
5.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.20âą74.2
69.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.84âą113
-15.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.71âą105
-12.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.60âą37.29
70.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.62âą38.08
-20.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$2.32âą143
91.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$5.05âą312
273.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.03âą63.4
72.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.44âą88.8
90.97%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Cavite
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.28âą17.42
400.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$3.13âą193
266.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$0.72âą44.59
333.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.24âą14.85
316.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$2.41âą148
484.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.15âą70.9
17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$32.5Kâą2.0M
-16.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$20.8Kâą1.3M
58.65%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Cavite
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$50.8âą3,133
146.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$17.39âą1,073
-21.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$26.11âą1,610
-29.07%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cavite
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$33.93âą2,093
81.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$5.83âą360
57.63%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cavite
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$151âą9,324
361.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$4,745âą292.7K
228.62%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cavite
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$40.78âą2,516
41.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$26.30âą1,622
33.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$74.7âą4,605
51.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$47.03âą2,901
83.67%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cavite
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$158âą9,755
289.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$124âą7,661
259.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$269âą16.6K
661.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$396âą24.4K
277.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cavite
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$234âą14.5K
123.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.5
18.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Cavite: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $158 in Cavite. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 123% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $13.00 in Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $177 â making Cavite 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 Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cavite cheaper than Phuket?
Yes â Phuket is pricier by about 109%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $884 in Cavite. 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 Cavite, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Cavite?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $590 in Cavite. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 267% less in Cavite. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Cavite?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cavite, where all-in costs run around $590, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Cavite it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Cavite more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cavite 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, Phuket or Cavite?
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 Cavite. 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.