Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Erdenet Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Erdenet

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $374 in Erdenet.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $621 in Erdenet.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $869 in Erdenet.

Living in Phuket is roughly 230% more expensive than in Erdenet, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Erdenet 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$4.14 MNT 14.9K

6.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,073

$27.56 MNT 99.1K

17.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

$4.06 MNT 14.6K

119.95%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.3

$2.18 MNT 7,844

33.03%

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

$0.88 ฿29.27

$0.64 MNT 2,314

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.00

$0.44 MNT 1,580

9.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.2

$1.65 MNT 5,934

42.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$1.68 MNT 6,054

121.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.0

$1.02 MNT 3,655

83.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.75

$0.88 MNT 3,181

67.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$2.86 MNT 10.3K

-45.80%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿69.9

$1.97 MNT 7,077

6.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿651

$7.09 MNT 25.5K

176.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$7.13 MNT 25.6K

-52.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿378

$4.35 MNT 15.6K

161.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.2

$2.19 MNT 7,863

36.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.0

$1.71 MNT 6,143

-1.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$1.64 MNT 5,912

34.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿71.9

$1.40 MNT 5,036

54.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

$1.38 MNT 4,949

10.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

$0.87 MNT 3,122

54.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.53

$1.42 MNT 5,107

-20.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.17

$0.99 MNT 3,557

-44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$2.79 MNT 10.0K

52.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

$5.43 MNT 19.5K

251.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$1.65 MNT 5,950

7.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.5

$1.69 MNT 6,082

64.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.1

$0.17 MNT 626

1211.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿756

$19.68 MNT 70.8K

15.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$0.65 MNT 2,346

366.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.02

$0.40 MNT 1,443

155.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.57

$0.75 MNT 2,685

98.67%

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

$26.6K ฿883.8K

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

$27.0K ฿898.7K

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

$102 ฿3,407

$59.5 MNT 213.9K

72.22%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$2.70 MNT 9,710

319.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿578

$13.88 MNT 49.9K

25.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,732

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

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

$561 ฿18.6K

$275 MNT 988.4K

103.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿382.6K

$2,519 MNT 9.1M

356.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,096

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿982

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,259

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,943

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

$224 MNT 804.9K

120.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Erdenet: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Phuket pays 121% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $28.00 in Erdenet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $189 per month, with Erdenet 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 Erdenet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Erdenet differ by about 230% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $374 including rent). Erdenet is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 121% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $275 in Erdenet. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $374 in Erdenet versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Erdenet but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Erdenet the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Erdenet are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Erdenet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 230% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.