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: $1,223 in Phuket versus $439 in Iganga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $701 in Iganga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $962 in Iganga.

Living in Phuket is roughly 179% 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

$4.51 ฿148

$2.86 UGX 10.4K

57.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,528

$26.59 UGX 97.0K

75.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿278

$8.70 UGX 31.7K

-2.41%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿101

$2.86 UGX 10.4K

7.69%

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

$0.68 ฿22.26

$0.47 UGX 1,704

44.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.84

$0.31 UGX 1,145

16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿79.5

$1.41 UGX 5,143

72.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.86 UGX 10.4K

26.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.7

$0.76 UGX 2,774

188.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.5

$1.20 UGX 4,367

50.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿73.1

$1.39 UGX 5,085

60.43%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿73.3

$1.81 UGX 6,616

23.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿642

$4.36 UGX 15.9K

349.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿122

$5.05 UGX 18.4K

-26.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿441

$4.35 UGX 15.9K

209.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿110

$2.82 UGX 10.3K

19.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.47 UGX 5,356

10.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$1.67 UGX 6,086

44.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿65.2

$1.60 UGX 5,842

24.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿50.2

$1.56 UGX 5,705

-1.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.59

$1.92 UGX 6,998

-24.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿33.23

$1.06 UGX 3,884

-4.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.86

$0.54 UGX 1,983

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.91 UGX 10.6K

46.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿627

$9.56 UGX 34.9K

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.2

$1.24 UGX 4,536

48.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.8

$2.05 UGX 7,495

33.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿384

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿98.4

$0.54 UGX 1,960

455.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.28

$0.28 UGX 1,023

275.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿456

$4.28 UGX 15.6K

224.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿42.28

$1.50 UGX 5,477

-14.00%

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

$28.0K ฿918.7K

$9,052 UGX 33.0M

209.71%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$8,598 UGX 31.4M

289.66%

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

$122 ฿3,997

$42.37 UGX 154.6K

187.89%

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

$13.93 ฿457

$14.53 UGX 53.0K

-4.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿618

$43.25 UGX 157.8K

-56.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿2,008

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿552

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿291

$6.41 UGX 23.4K

38.69%

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

$691 ฿22.7K

$159 UGX 579.1K

335.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿529.5K

$4,340 UGX 15.8M

272.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,894

$17.06 UGX 62.2K

238.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,160

$14.31 UGX 52.2K

147.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,716

$39.01 UGX 142.3K

190.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,720

$46.22 UGX 168.6K

79.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿117.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

20.8

-74.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Iganga: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Iganga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $170 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 179% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,835 in Phuket and $659 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 $691 in Phuket versus $159 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 $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $439 in Iganga versus $1,223 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 179% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.