Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Iganga Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Iganga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $449 in Iganga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $698 in Iganga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $946 in Iganga.

Living in Phuket is roughly 181% more expensive than in Iganga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Iganga 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ฿145

$2.75 UGX 10.2K

61.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.07 ฿1,151

$27.17 UGX 101.0K

29.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 ฿294

$7.58 UGX 28.2K

18.21%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.4

$2.58 UGX 9,585

16.28%

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

$0.77 ฿25.33

$0.41 UGX 1,511

87.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.44

$0.30 UGX 1,115

56.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 ฿78.6

$1.37 UGX 5,107

75.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿123

$1.95 UGX 7,264

92.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$0.85 UGX 3,171

114.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ฿46.65

$0.98 UGX 3,642

44.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.8

$1.34 UGX 4,976

15.67%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.50 UGX 5,593

42.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.76 ฿648

$4.88 UGX 18.1K

304.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿114

$5.02 UGX 18.7K

-30.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 ฿364

$5.15 UGX 19.1K

115.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ฿95.5

$2.38 UGX 8,830

22.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ฿54.6

$1.27 UGX 4,733

30.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿74.5

$1.45 UGX 5,374

56.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ฿68.8

$1.33 UGX 4,952

57.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.24

$1.34 UGX 4,990

9.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 ฿46.29

$1.47 UGX 5,450

-4.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ฿35.78

$0.86 UGX 3,214

26.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ฿17.58

$0.54 UGX 1,994

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 ฿147

$2.69 UGX 10.0K

66.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.72 ฿614

$8.26 UGX 30.7K

126.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.4

$1.08 UGX 4,011

70.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ฿96.7

$2.09 UGX 7,778

41.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿74.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.07 ฿757

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ฿99.9

$0.52 UGX 1,930

484.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 ฿35.82

$0.33 UGX 1,222

230.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 ฿125

$3.43 UGX 12.8K

11.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿48.79

$1.50 UGX 5,573

-0.67%

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

$27.4K ฿900.3K

$7,977 UGX 29.6M

243.99%

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

$27.5K ฿902.7K

$8,166 UGX 30.3M

236.92%

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

$102 ฿3,340

$74.5 UGX 277.0K

36.62%

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

$11.28 ฿370

$15.30 UGX 56.9K

-26.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.75 ฿582

$39.50 UGX 146.8K

-55.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 ฿1,777

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ฿360

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 ฿258

$7.36 UGX 27.4K

6.66%

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

$577 ฿18.9K

$252 UGX 934.8K

129.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿381.6K

$8,483 UGX 31.5M

37.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 ฿2,144

$15.25 UGX 56.7K

328.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.89 ฿948

$13.90 UGX 51.7K

107.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ฿3,250

$35.13 UGX 130.6K

181.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,961

$47.44 UGX 176.3K

90.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ฿24.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 ฿16.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ฿39.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 ฿117.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,610 ฿85.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

20.75

-73.16%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Last update for Iganga: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $35.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Iganga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $160 per month, with Iganga 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 Iganga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Iganga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 181% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,891 in Phuket and $674 in Iganga to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $577 in Phuket versus $252 in Iganga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Iganga – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $35.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $449 in Iganga versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Iganga but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Iganga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Iganga is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Iganga 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 Iganga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 181% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.