😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $772 in Clark Freeport.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,189 in Clark Freeport.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,607 in Clark Freeport.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 64% more expensive than Clark Freeport, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Clark Freeport42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$3.56₱220
32.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,491
$17.82₱1,098
154.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿277
$3.34₱206
152.40%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿96.3
$2.45₱151
19.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.54
$0.77₱47.51
-10.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.07
$0.39₱24.06
-5.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿79.2
$1.32₱81.1
82.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.16₱133
72.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.4
$1.91₱118
16.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿60.2
$1.27₱78.5
44.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿71.3
$0.94₱57.7
130.85%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.8
$2.09₱129
5.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿649
$8.11₱500
143.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$4.33₱267
-16.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿445
$7.88₱485
71.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿108
$2.84₱175
15.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿53.0
$1.60₱98.8
0.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.2
$2.67₱165
-9.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.5
$1.62₱99.8
28.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿50.3
$2.24₱138
-31.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.67
$2.52₱155
-41.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.50
$1.12₱68.7
-11.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.78
$0.72₱44.09
-29.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿145
$2.85₱176
54.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿637
$7.97₱491
143.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.5
$1.19₱73.5
49.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿89.1
$1.96₱121
38.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿45.07
$0.23₱14.18
495.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿375
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿99.3
$0.83₱50.9
263.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.69
$0.22₱13.50
350.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿463
$2.19₱135
543.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.79
$1.09₱67.5
24.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿927.0K
$26.8K₱1.7M
5.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$20.8K₱1.3M
57.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,000
$114₱7,018
6.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿446
$33.14₱2,043
-59.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿602
$27.76₱1,711
-34.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,979
$34.48₱2,125
74.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿563
$4.35₱268
294.02%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿286
$6.12₱377
41.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.8K
$152₱9,354
356.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿515.6K
$4,395₱270.9K
256.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,957
$45.96₱2,833
29.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,143
$26.65₱1,642
30.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,767
$75.9₱4,677
51.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,738
$53.3₱3,283
56.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.2K
$268₱16.5K
128.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.4K
$178₱11.0K
144.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.8K
$597₱36.8K
250.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.6K
$390₱24.1K
286.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿123.2K
$2,413₱148.7K
55.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿86.0K
$1,025₱63.2K
155.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.7K
$330₱20.3K
54.08%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Clark Freeport: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $268 in Clark Freeport. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 54% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $18.00 in Clark Freeport for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $207 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 Clark Freeport?
Phuket and Clark Freeport differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $772 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?
Phuket pays 54% more on average, 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 Clark Freeport?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $268 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 $693 in Phuket versus $152 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 $45.00 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 $772 in Clark Freeport versus $1,265 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 64% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.