😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,190 in Phuket versus $527 in Koronadal City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,006 in Phuket versus $818 in Koronadal City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Phuket versus $1,108 in Koronadal City.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 126% more expensive than in Koronadal City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket11% lower, Koronadal City61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35฿146
$4.27₱268
1.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.45฿1,090
$17.11₱1,073
89.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42฿283
$3.31₱207
154.38%
Cappuccino
$2.81฿94.2
$2.25₱141
24.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87฿29.38
$0.38₱23.84
128.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46฿15.44
$0.33₱20.89
39.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.59฿86.8
$1.19₱74.8
117.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64฿122
$1.94₱122
87.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿57.3
$1.53₱95.7
11.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45฿48.56
$0.65₱41.04
123.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56฿52.4
$0.91₱57.3
71.43%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.5
$1.29₱81.1
62.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.53฿656
$6.58₱413
196.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.40฿114
$2.83₱177
20.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.14฿374
$4.84₱304
130.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83฿95.1
$2.43₱153
16.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.5
$0.83₱51.9
95.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22฿74.7
$1.43₱89.4
55.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15฿72.1
$1.08₱68.0
99.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49฿50.1
$2.14₱134
-30.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33฿44.53
$2.65₱166
-49.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07฿35.82
$1.19₱74.7
-10.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿17.06
$0.65₱40.63
-21.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38฿147
$2.39₱150
83.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.77฿630
$7.18₱450
161.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74฿58.5
$0.93₱58.6
87.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿93.2
$1.60₱100
73.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.17฿72.8
$0.25₱15.65
768.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.28฿748
$11.12₱697
100.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿101
$0.70₱43.72
331.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06฿35.53
$0.23₱14.32
360.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.71฿125
$1.95₱122
90.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿48.03
$1.05₱65.7
36.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K฿884.7K
$21.7K₱1.4M
21.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K฿879.9K
$14.6K₱916.8K
79.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.7฿3,246
$106₱6,641
-8.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41฿383
$19.51₱1,224
-41.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11฿574
$31.33₱1,965
-45.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8฿1,773
$22.56₱1,415
134.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿372
$4.53₱284
144.37%
Cinema Ticket
$7.65฿257
$2.84₱178
169.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$555฿18.6K
$108₱6,793
412.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K฿378.8K
$7,654₱480.1K
47.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4฿2,130
$12.02₱754
427.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.61฿961
$8.74₱548
227.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7฿3,248
$47.27₱2,965
104.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6฿2,975
$39.35₱2,468
125.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$735฿24.7K
$73.4₱4,605
900.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458฿15.4K
$46.50₱2,916
884.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,102฿70.6K
$143₱8,952
1372.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,187฿39.9K
$96.6₱6,059
1128.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,493฿117.3K
$2,438₱152.9K
43.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,491฿83.7K
$998₱62.6K
149.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Koronadal City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$501฿16.8K
$130₱8,145
285.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
6.5
-14.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026
Last update for Koronadal City: October 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $735 in Phuket and $73.4 in Koronadal City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 286% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $17.00 in Koronadal City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $154 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 – living expenses run 126% 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 in Koronadal City?
Average pay runs 286% higher in Phuket, 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 compared to Koronadal City?
Rent for a central apartment: $735 in Phuket versus $73.4 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 and in Koronadal City?
Dining out is cheaper in Koronadal City – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $32.00 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 $1,190 per month in Phuket versus $527 in Koronadal City – a 126% 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 in Koronadal City?
At $527 in Koronadal City versus $1,190 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 – similar infrastructure at $527 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 – expenses run 126% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.