Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Itajubรก, MG Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Itajubรก, MG

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $764 in Itajubรก, MG.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,093 in Itajubรก, MG.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,423 in Itajubรก, MG.

Living in Phuket is roughly 65% more expensive than Itajubรก, MG, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Itajubรก, MG 43% lower.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Itajubรก, MG
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 เธฟ149
$3.65 R$18.46
24.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 เธฟ1,519
$14.61 R$74.0
219.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 เธฟ276
$5.00 R$25.33
69.40%
Cappuccino
$3.03 เธฟ98.6
$0.68 R$3.44
345.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 เธฟ22.45
$0.81 R$4.10
-14.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 เธฟ11.92
$0.38 R$1.94
-2.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 เธฟ81.0
$1.78 R$9.03
39.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 เธฟ119
$2.74 R$13.87
33.58%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Itajubรก, MG
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 เธฟ71.0
$0.92 R$4.67
136.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 เธฟ62.0
$1.51 R$7.66
25.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 เธฟ71.6
$0.93 R$4.69
136.56%
Eggs
$2.22 เธฟ72.4
$1.96 R$9.92
13.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 เธฟ651
$7.78 R$39.39
156.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 เธฟ119
$3.04 R$15.39
20.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 เธฟ432
$5.98 R$30.27
121.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 เธฟ105
$2.42 R$12.25
33.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 เธฟ55.3
$1.63 R$8.25
4.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 เธฟ78.0
$1.46 R$7.37
63.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 เธฟ67.7
$1.52 R$7.67
36.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 เธฟ51.8
$0.51 R$2.60
211.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 เธฟ48.31
$1.02 R$5.18
45.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 เธฟ33.54
$0.28 R$1.43
267.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 เธฟ16.83
$0.58 R$2.93
-10.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 เธฟ138
$1.94 R$9.81
119.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 เธฟ612
$8.67 R$43.89
116.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 เธฟ57.2
$1.28 R$6.46
37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 เธฟ89.8
$1.41 R$7.11
95.74%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Phuket
Itajubรก, MG
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 เธฟ44.32
$0.86 R$4.33
58.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 เธฟ370
$38.93 R$197
-70.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 เธฟ102
$1.08 R$5.45
190.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 เธฟ33.74
$0.70 R$3.53
48.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 เธฟ448
$7.53 R$38.13
82.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 เธฟ43.79
$1.04 R$5.26
28.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K เธฟ901.4K
$15.4K R$77.7K
80.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K เธฟ1.1M
$27.2K R$137.9K
24.32%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Itajubรก, MG
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 เธฟ4,025
$104 R$529
18.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 เธฟ440
$11.95 R$60.5
13.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 เธฟ609
$15.94 R$80.7
17.25%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Itajubรก, MG
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 เธฟ2,013
$13.89 R$70.3
345.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 เธฟ562
$21.39 R$108
-19.35%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 เธฟ298
$6.55 R$33.15
39.54%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Itajubรก, MG
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 เธฟ22.9K
$536 R$2,714
31.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K เธฟ517.0K
$11.5K R$58.5K
37.46%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Itajubรก, MG
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 เธฟ1,937
$45.08 R$228
31.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 เธฟ1,142
$42.27 R$214
-17.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 เธฟ3,754
$75.9 R$384
51.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 เธฟ2,737
$60.9 R$308
38.04%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Itajubรก, MG
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 เธฟ20.1K
$285 R$1,442
117.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 เธฟ14.1K
$212 R$1,075
103.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 เธฟ67.2K
$462 R$2,336
346.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 เธฟ49.2K
$326 R$1,649
364.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 เธฟ118.7K
$902 R$4,567
304.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 เธฟ85.5K
$670 R$3,391
292.01%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Itajubรก, MG
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 เธฟ16.5K
$286 R$1,450
76.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
11.33
-52.96%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Itajubรก, MG: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $285 in Itajubรก, MG. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 77% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $15.00 in Itajubรก, MG for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $166 per month, with Itajubรก, MG 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 Itajubรก, MG: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Itajubรก, MG?
Phuket and Itajubรก, MG differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $764 including rent). Itajubรก, MG is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Phuket or Itajubรก, MG?
Phuket pays 77% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Itajubรก, MG?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $285 in Itajubรก, MG. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Itajubรก, MG?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $536 in Itajubรก, MG. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 77% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $764 in Itajubรก, MG versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Itajubรก, MG but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Itajubรก, MG the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Itajubรก, MG?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ€“ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Itajubรก, MG safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Itajubรก, MG 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 Itajubรก, MG?
Expats usually find Itajubรก, MG gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 65% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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