😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $790 in Clark Freeport.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $1,212 in Clark Freeport.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,291 in Phuket versus $1,634 in Clark Freeport.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 60% more expensive than in Clark Freeport, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Clark Freeport41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53฿153
$3.53₱218
28.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36฿1,567
$17.84₱1,101
159.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.65฿292
$3.29₱203
162.92%
Cappuccino
$3.09฿104
$2.42₱150
27.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.93
$0.77₱47.29
-11.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.46
$0.39₱24.08
-5.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42฿81.7
$1.31₱80.6
84.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81฿129
$2.19₱135
73.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿73.6
$1.85₱114
17.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿61.4
$1.21₱74.7
50.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.6
$0.95₱58.9
129.47%
Eggs
$2.24฿75.6
$2.05₱127
9.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.93฿674
$8.22₱507
142.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.64฿123
$4.36₱269
-16.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿459
$7.54₱466
79.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29฿111
$2.89₱178
13.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69฿57.0
$1.52₱93.8
11.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.9
$2.63₱162
-11.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.5
$1.61₱99.7
26.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.1
$2.31₱143
-30.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49฿50.5
$2.61₱161
-42.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿34.23
$1.12₱69.3
-9.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.12
$0.71₱43.73
-32.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿150
$2.79₱172
59.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.63฿630
$8.02₱495
132.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿60.4
$1.16₱71.6
54.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80฿94.5
$1.97₱122
42.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.99
$0.23₱14.21
517.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.33฿383
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09฿105
$0.82₱50.3
276.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.25
$0.22₱13.52
372.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.63฿461
$2.16₱134
531.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.31
$1.14₱70.4
14.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K฿922.3K
$26.8K₱1.7M
1.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$20.2K₱1.2M
64.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,164
$115₱7,073
7.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81฿467
$33.29₱2,055
-58.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿626
$27.42₱1,693
-32.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.4฿2,041
$34.53₱2,132
74.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80฿568
$4.30₱266
290.70%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿301
$5.83₱360
52.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$687฿23.2K
$151₱9,312
355.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿525.7K
$4,304₱265.7K
261.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6฿1,949
$45.65₱2,818
26.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66฿1,172
$26.70₱1,648
29.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,885
$75.5₱4,662
52.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.9฿2,871
$52.1₱3,218
62.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$618฿20.9K
$266₱16.4K
132.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$443฿15.0K
$176₱10.9K
151.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,047฿69.2K
$598₱36.9K
242.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,506฿50.9K
$396₱24.4K
280.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,568฿120.6K
$2,433₱150.2K
46.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,511฿84.9K
$1,080₱66.7K
132.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿17.0K
$318₱19.6K
58.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.67
-20.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026
Last update for Clark Freeport: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $618 in Phuket and $266 in Clark Freeport. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 58% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $18.00 in Clark Freeport for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $205 per month, with Clark Freeport 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 Clark Freeport: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Clark Freeport?
Phuket and Clark Freeport differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $790 including rent). Clark Freeport is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Clark Freeport?
Average pay runs 58% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Clark Freeport?
Rent for a central apartment: $618 in Phuket versus $266 in Clark Freeport. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Clark Freeport?
Childcare runs $687 in Phuket versus $151 in Clark Freeport. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Clark Freeport – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $790 in Clark Freeport versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Clark Freeport but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Clark Freeport the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Clark Freeport?
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 Phuket or Clark Freeport safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Clark Freeport 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: Phuket or Clark Freeport?
Expats usually find Clark Freeport gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.