Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Island Garden City of Samal: $870 a month against $1,301 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
42

Cost of Living Index in Island Garden City of Samal
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Island Garden City of Samal Living Index

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Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines

Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,301

/mo nomad

Island Garden City of Samal

🇵🇭 Philippines

$870

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Island Garden City of Samal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Island Garden City of Samal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,301 per month in Phuket vs $870 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

Phuket $1,301
Island Garden City of Samal $870

A couple spends around $2,238 per month in Phuket vs $1,307 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

Phuket $2,238
Island Garden City of Samal $1,307

A family of three spends $3,175 per month in Phuket vs $1,744 in Island Garden City of Samal, rent included.

Phuket $3,175
Island Garden City of Samal $1,744

Phuket costs about 50% more than Island Garden City of Samal, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and Island Garden City of Samal are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 3% lower, Island Garden City of Samal 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿150

$5.54 ₱348

-19.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.98 ฿1,103

$20.51 ₱1,290

60.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 ฿283

$3.89 ₱245

117.48%

Cappuccino

$2.74 ฿91.6

$2.24 ₱141

22.32%

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

$0.97 ฿32.43

$1.02 ₱64.3

-4.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.46

$0.60 ₱37.77

-8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.6

$1.43 ₱89.9

76.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿123

$2.17 ₱136

69.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 ฿56.0

$2.07 ₱130

-19.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿47.25

$1.15 ₱72.2

22.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.5

$0.90 ₱56.8

77.78%

Eggs

$2.17 ฿72.6

$2.03 ₱128

6.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.79 ฿662

$6.82 ₱428

190.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 ฿113

$5.13 ₱322

-34.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.03 ฿369

$7.22 ₱454

52.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.0

$2.47 ₱155

18.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.6

$1.24 ₱78.2

36.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 ฿76.7

$2.44 ₱153

-6.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ฿72.0

$1.29 ₱80.9

66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$2.11 ₱133

-27.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ฿44.16

$1.53 ₱96.1

-13.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ฿37.58

$0.89 ₱55.7

25.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.38

$0.72 ₱45.15

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 ฿145

$2.52 ₱158

71.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.47 ฿618

$5.78 ₱363

219.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿59.0

$1.24 ₱78.3

41.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$1.56 ₱97.8

78.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.47 ฿49.11

$0.24 ₱14.89

512.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$55.1 ฿1,843

$13.93 ₱876

295.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$0.80 ₱50.1

90.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.73 ฿24.35

$0.22 ₱13.83

231.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.83 ฿128

$1.86 ₱117

105.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 ฿49.54

$1.23 ₱77.5

20.33%

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

$27.0K ฿903.2K

$21.5K ₱1.4M

25.44%

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

$26.5K ฿887.2K

$19.5K ₱1.2M

35.95%

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

$101 ฿3,368

$106 ₱6,670

-5.08%

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

$11.17 ฿374

$18.77 ₱1,180

-40.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.33 ฿580

$30.91 ₱1,943

-43.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.6 ฿2,427

$33.70 ₱2,119

115.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.26 ฿511

$8.97 ₱564

70.12%

Cinema Ticket

$7.86 ฿263

$4.65 ₱292

69.03%

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

$542 ฿18.1K

$23.69 ₱1,489

2185.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.8K ฿628.4K

$7,917 ₱497.7K

137.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.5 ฿2,090

$51.5 ₱3,240

21.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.83 ฿964

$27.65 ₱1,738

4.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,279

$78.1 ₱4,908

25.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.1 ฿2,980

$49.71 ₱3,125

79.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.7K

$366 ₱23.0K

101.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ฿16.8K

$270 ₱17.0K

86.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,941 ฿64.9K

$921 ₱57.9K

110.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,424 ฿47.6K

$483 ₱30.4K

194.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,216 ฿141.0K

$3,913 ₱246.0K

7.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,296 ฿110.2K

$2,081 ₱130.8K

58.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$496 ฿16.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.75

-28.13%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 9, 2026

Last update for Island Garden City of Samal: November 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$503 38.6%

Island Garden City of Samal

$270 31.1% 46.3% $233

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$269 20.7%

Island Garden City of Samal

$190 21.9% 29.4% $79

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$129 9.9%

Island Garden City of Samal

$156 17.9% 20.6% $27

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$125 9.6%

Island Garden City of Samal

$93 10.7% 25.7% $32

Eating Out

Phuket

$120 9.2%

Island Garden City of Samal

$101 11.6% 16% $19

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$88 6.8%

Island Garden City of Samal

$43 4.9% 51.3% $45

Getting Around

Phuket

$66 5.1%

Island Garden City of Samal

$17 1.9% 74.6% $49

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $366 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 $33 in Phuket versus $21 in Island Garden City of Samal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $269 vs $190 – making Island Garden City of Samal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇵🇭 Island Garden City of Samal

🕒 Local time

03:46 3:46 AM

04:46 4:46 AM

1 h ahead of Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

116,771

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.42 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.45 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.53 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 10, 2026: 1 USD = 62.87 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.54 PHP (100 PHP = 1.42 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Phuket Island Garden City of Samal 3,010 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Island Garden City of Samal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 50% more than Island Garden City of Samal, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,951 per month in Phuket and $1,305 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $366 there versus $738 in Phuket.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,301 in Phuket and $870 in Island Garden City of Samal. That makes Island Garden City of Samal about 33% cheaper.

Public transport costs about 75% less in Island Garden City of Samal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,301 in Phuket and $870 in Island Garden City of Samal. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Island Garden City of Samal – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

For expats, Island Garden City of Samal is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 33% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.