ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,623 in Iglesias.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $2,467 in Iglesias.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,306 in Phuket versus $3,311 in Iglesias.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 23% less than in Iglesias, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 7% below, Iglesias is 21% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Iglesias
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59āļŋ147
$23.40âŽ19.91
-80.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83āļŋ1,501
$69.4âŽ59.1
-32.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70āļŋ279
$11.02âŽ9.38
-21.05%
Cappuccino
$2.92āļŋ93.7
$1.77âŽ1.51
64.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68āļŋ21.92
$2.82âŽ2.40
-75.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40āļŋ12.70
$1.19âŽ1.02
-66.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51āļŋ80.4
$5.73âŽ4.88
-56.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ122
$4.59âŽ3.91
-17.21%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Iglesias
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16āļŋ69.3
$1.17âŽ1.00
84.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88āļŋ60.3
$1.15âŽ0.98
63.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16āļŋ69.2
$1.77âŽ1.51
22.03%
Eggs
$2.22āļŋ71.2
$3.43âŽ2.92
-35.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57āļŋ627
$16.88âŽ14.37
15.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80āļŋ122
$7.73âŽ6.58
-50.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41āļŋ430
$7.71âŽ6.56
73.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26āļŋ104
$2.42âŽ2.06
34.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.7
$1.69âŽ1.43
-4.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31āļŋ74.0
$2.22âŽ1.89
4.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06āļŋ66.0
$1.77âŽ1.51
16.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.5
$1.82âŽ1.55
-11.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44āļŋ46.26
$2.13âŽ1.81
-32.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.01
$1.42âŽ1.21
-27.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48āļŋ15.39
$0.59âŽ0.50
-18.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50āļŋ144
$6.65âŽ5.66
-32.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18āļŋ615
$5.14âŽ4.37
273.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82āļŋ58.4
$1.65âŽ1.41
10.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69āļŋ86.2
$1.37âŽ1.16
96.35%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Iglesias
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38āļŋ44.16
$1.77âŽ1.51
-22.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76āļŋ377
$43.30âŽ36.85
-72.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11āļŋ99.6
$3.86âŽ3.29
-19.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.18
$1.11âŽ0.94
-9.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74āļŋ441
$29.86âŽ25.41
-53.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.61
$2.06âŽ1.75
-36.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
$34.3KâŽ29.2K
-20.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$35.4KâŽ30.1K
-6.66%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Iglesias
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,004
$182âŽ155
-31.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74āļŋ440
$11.52âŽ9.80
19.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61āļŋ597
$30.66âŽ26.09
-39.30%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Iglesias
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6āļŋ1,941
$55.0âŽ46.82
10.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15āļŋ550
$22.85âŽ19.45
-24.95%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01āļŋ289
$9.37âŽ7.97
-3.84%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Iglesias
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.4K
$545âŽ464
27.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
$7,864âŽ6,693
104.87%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Iglesias
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2āļŋ1,898
$90.8âŽ77.3
-34.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86āļŋ1,118
$62.4âŽ53.1
-44.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114āļŋ3,662
$85.6âŽ72.9
33.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8āļŋ2,751
$119âŽ102
-28.13%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Iglesias
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619āļŋ19.8K
$744âŽ634
-16.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437āļŋ14.0K
$578âŽ492
-24.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
$1,224âŽ1,042
69.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
$928âŽ790
62.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
$3,026âŽ2,575
24.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
$1,954âŽ1,663
37.82%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Iglesias
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528āļŋ16.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.87
9.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Iglesias: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $744 in Iglesias. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $47 in Phuket vs $69 in Iglesias. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $240, with Iglesias cheaper for home cooking.
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 Iglesias: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Iglesias?
Phuket and Iglesias differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,247 vs $1,623 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Iglesias?
You'd need roughly $1,870 in Phuket and $2,435 in Iglesias 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Iglesias?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $744 in Iglesias. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Iglesias pay roughly 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket â a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $69.0 in Iglesias. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,623 in Iglesias, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Iglesias. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Iglesias?
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 Iglesias safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Iglesias 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 Iglesias?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 30% less than in Iglesias. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.