😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,034 in Manavgat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,609 in Manavgat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,184 in Manavgat.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 22% more expensive than Manavgat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Manavgat23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$6.97₺323
-34.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$27.08₺1,253
72.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$4.17₺193
103.12%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$2.73₺126
10.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$1.72₺79.6
-59.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.28₺13.01
32.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$2.77₺128
-10.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.65₺122
38.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$0.84₺38.82
159.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$1.01₺46.59
88.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$1.11₺51.3
98.20%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$1.77₺81.9
25.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$8.11₺375
146.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$5.50₺254
-33.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$19.38₺897
-31.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$0.66₺30.69
389.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$2.16₺99.9
-21.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$0.65₺30.28
267.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$1.10₺50.9
89.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.60₺27.68
165.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.26₺11.94
469.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$0.33₺15.26
212.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.34₺15.95
52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$2.05₺95.0
107.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$6.93₺320
171.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$1.68₺77.9
4.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$2.08₺96.1
32.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.67₺31.07
102.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$30.15₺1,395
-62.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$1.10₺51.0
185.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$1.11₺51.3
-6.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$7.66₺354
79.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.21₺55.9
10.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$41.4K₺1.9M
-33.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$42.7K₺2.0M
-20.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$48.16₺2,228
156.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$8.09₺374
67.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$15.27₺707
22.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$42.65₺1,973
44.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$20.39₺944
-15.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$6.41₺296
42.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$599₺27.7K
17.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$8,919₺412.6K
77.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$48.28₺2,234
23.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$27.03₺1,251
29.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$110₺5,074
5.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$111₺5,119
-24.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$519₺24.0K
19.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$398₺18.4K
8.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$901₺41.7K
128.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$723₺33.5K
108.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$1,144₺52.9K
218.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
$919₺42.5K
185.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$706₺32.6K
-28.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
20
-73.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Manavgat: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $519 in Manavgat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Manavgat pays 39% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Manavgat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $199 per month, with Manavgat 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 Manavgat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Manavgat?
Phuket and Manavgat differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $1,034 including rent). Manavgat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Manavgat earns 39% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Manavgat?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $519 in Manavgat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Manavgat – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Manavgat?
All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $1,034 in Manavgat – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,034 in Manavgat versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Manavgat but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Manavgat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Manavgat?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Manavgat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Manavgat 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 Manavgat?
Expats usually find Manavgat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.