ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $762 in Clark Freeport.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $1,201 in Clark Freeport.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $1,640 in Clark Freeport.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 67% more expensive than Clark Freeport, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Clark Freeport43% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66āļŋ151
$3.52âą213
32.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44āļŋ1,505
$17.62âą1,066
163.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68āļŋ281
$3.32âą201
161.45%
Cappuccino
$2.95āļŋ95.5
$2.39âą145
23.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70āļŋ22.65
$0.78âą47.47
-10.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39āļŋ12.77
$0.36âą21.91
8.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53āļŋ82.1
$1.37âą82.8
84.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78āļŋ122
$2.08âą126
81.73%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22āļŋ71.8
$1.91âą115
16.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80āļŋ58.2
$1.26âą76.0
42.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19āļŋ70.8
$1.01âą61.2
116.83%
Eggs
$2.31āļŋ74.9
$2.10âą127
10.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34āļŋ627
$7.91âą479
144.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77āļŋ122
$4.30âą260
-12.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22āļŋ428
$7.68âą465
72.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33āļŋ108
$3.00âą181
11.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65āļŋ53.4
$1.52âą92.2
8.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29āļŋ74.2
$2.63âą159
-12.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99āļŋ64.4
$1.59âą96.5
25.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53āļŋ49.51
$2.32âą141
-34.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51āļŋ49.04
$2.53âą153
-40.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.30
$1.07âą64.9
-3.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51āļŋ16.66
$0.77âą46.73
-33.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41āļŋ143
$2.92âą176
51.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41āļŋ629
$8.18âą495
137.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80āļŋ58.3
$1.21âą73.2
48.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68āļŋ86.8
$2.04âą123
31.37%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43āļŋ46.37
$0.23âą13.92
521.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70āļŋ379
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04āļŋ98.4
$0.77âą46.73
294.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04āļŋ33.56
$0.24âą14.58
333.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68āļŋ443
$2.19âą133
524.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ42.08
$1.10âą66.6
18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kāļŋ903.9K
$26.9Kâą1.6M
3.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$20.6Kâą1.2M
60.43%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123āļŋ3,984
$111âą6,704
10.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82āļŋ448
$32.79âą1,984
-57.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86āļŋ611
$27.87âą1,686
-32.33%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2āļŋ1,981
$34.30âą2,076
78.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81āļŋ545
$4.35âą263
286.44%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87āļŋ287
$5.85âą354
51.62%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696āļŋ22.6K
$151âą9,147
360.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ520.3K
$4,315âą261.1K
272.10%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3āļŋ1,921
$45.62âą2,760
29.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85āļŋ1,129
$26.53âą1,606
31.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,667
$76.0âą4,599
48.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1āļŋ2,756
$53.5âą3,237
59.00%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615āļŋ19.9K
$271âą16.4K
127.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448āļŋ14.5K
$179âą10.9K
149.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085āļŋ67.6K
$577âą34.9K
261.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496āļŋ48.5K
$388âą23.5K
285.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734āļŋ121.0K
$2,370âą143.4K
57.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662āļŋ86.2K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Clark Freeport
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534āļŋ17.3K
$330âą20.0K
61.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.67
-20.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Clark Freeport: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $271 in Clark Freeport. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 62% 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: $46 in Phuket vs $18 in Clark Freeport for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 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 67% in total monthly costs ($1,270 vs $762 including rent). Clark Freeport is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Clark Freeport?
Phuket pays 62% 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: $615 in Phuket versus $271 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 $696 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 â 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 $762 in Clark Freeport versus $1,270 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 â 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 â expenses run 67% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.