Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Island Garden City of Samal Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Island Garden City of Samal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $716 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,102 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,488 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

Phuket costs about 72% more than Island Garden City of Samal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Island Garden City of Samal are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Island Garden City of Samal 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$1.22 ₱77.0

261.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,074

$17.00 ₱1,068

89.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

$3.93 ₱247

127.23%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.4

$2.14 ₱134

35.51%

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

$0.88 ฿29.30

$1.04 ₱65.6

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.01

$0.67 ₱42.37

-28.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.3

$1.12 ₱70.1

109.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$1.91 ₱120

94.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.1

$2.00 ₱126

-6.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.81

$1.09 ₱68.6

34.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.7

$0.85 ₱53.2

82.35%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.0

$1.88 ₱118

11.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿652

$6.61 ₱415

196.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$4.19 ₱263

-18.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿379

$8.39 ₱527

35.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.3

$2.67 ₱168

11.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$1.11 ₱69.8

51.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$2.17 ₱137

1.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.0

$1.16 ₱72.6

86.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.8

$2.08 ₱131

-26.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.55

$3.56 ₱224

-62.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.57

$1.23 ₱77.1

-8.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.19

$0.70 ₱44.27

-21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$2.53 ₱159

68.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

$7.87 ₱495

142.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$1.24 ₱78.1

43.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.6

$1.57 ₱98.9

77.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.2

$0.29 ₱18.53

668.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿757

$10.34 ₱649

119.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$0.78 ₱48.84

288.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.06

$0.23 ₱14.35

343.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$1.96 ₱123

98.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.63

$1.17 ₱73.6

27.35%

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

$26.6K ฿884.9K

$21.4K ₱1.3M

24.11%

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

$27.0K ฿899.8K

$19.2K ₱1.2M

41.12%

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

$102 ฿3,411

$101 ₱6,347

1.43%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$19.15 ₱1,203

-40.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿579

$31.83 ₱2,000

-45.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,734

$32.81 ₱2,061

58.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿369

$4.23 ₱266

161.70%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$4.70 ₱295

63.62%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$109 ₱6,846

414.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿383.0K

$7,658 ₱481.1K

50.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,098

$31.98 ₱2,009

97.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿983

$19.21 ₱1,207

53.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,263

$72.0 ₱4,524

36.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,946

$61.1 ₱3,840

44.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$252 ₱15.8K

193.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$155 ₱9,707

212.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.1K

$565 ₱35.5K

272.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$300 ₱18.8K

308.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.4K

$2,863 ₱179.9K

26.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.7K

$1,092 ₱68.6K

138.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

8.31

-32.97%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $252 in Island Garden City of Samal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $17.00 in Island Garden City of Samal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $194 – making Island Garden City of Samal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Island Garden City of Samal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 72% more than Island Garden City of Samal, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,074 in Island Garden City of Samal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Island Garden City of Samal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $716 in Island Garden City of Samal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 120% less in Island Garden City of Samal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Island Garden City of Samal, where all-in costs run around $716, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Island Garden City of Samal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Island Garden City of Samal costs $716 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Island Garden City of Samal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.