ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $575 in Koronadal City.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $868 in Koronadal City.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,161 in Koronadal City.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 114% more expensive than Koronadal City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Koronadal City57% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$4.48âą276
3.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$14.28âą881
228.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$3.82âą236
131.41%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.96âą121
53.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$0.42âą26.10
76.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.36âą22.28
2.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.31âą80.9
86.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$1.81âą112
99.45%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.68âą104
34.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.77âą47.32
138.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$0.92âą56.6
143.48%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$1.45âą89.3
60.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$5.96âą368
230.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$3.26âą201
11.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$5.46âą337
139.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.59âą160
30.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$0.96âą59.4
70.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.62âą100
48.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.24âą76.7
63.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.31âą142
-32.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$3.03âą187
-50.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.06âą65.4
-3.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.56âą34.57
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$2.64âą163
68.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.53âą464
150.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.02âą62.7
74.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.56âą96.4
76.28%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.30âą18.42
366.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$17.78âą1,096
-35.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$0.78âą48.26
300.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.25âą15.43
300.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$2.16âą134
552.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.11âą68.4
21.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$22.4Kâą1.4M
21.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$15.8Kâą975.9K
108.08%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$106âą6,542
17.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$26.13âą1,612
-48.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$35.76âą2,206
-48.21%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$25.25âą1,557
143.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$4.38âą270
284.47%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$3.18âą196
188.99%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$120âą7,387
483.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$4,296âą265.0K
262.96%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$13.20âą814
337.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$9.73âą600
262.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$53.0âą3,271
113.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$43.59âą2,689
98.16%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$80.6âą4,974
663.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$51.0âą3,144
775.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$156âą9,645
1209.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$105âą6,505
1314.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,363âą145.8K
59.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-
-
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$130âą8,007
303.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.5
-18.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Koronadal City: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $80.6 in Koronadal City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 303% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $14.00 in Koronadal City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $163 per month, with Koronadal City 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 Koronadal City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Koronadal City?
Koronadal City wins on cost â living expenses run 114% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Koronadal City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Koronadal City?
Phuket pays 303% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Koronadal City?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $80.6 in Koronadal City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket vs Koronadal City?
Dining out is cheaper in Koronadal City â a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Koronadal City?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $575 in Koronadal City â a 114% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Koronadal City?
At $575 in Koronadal City versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Koronadal City but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Koronadal City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Koronadal City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Koronadal City delivers better value â similar infrastructure at $575 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Koronadal City hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Koronadal City?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Koronadal City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Koronadal City gentler on the wallet â expenses run 114% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.