ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $996 in Manavgat.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,578 in Manavgat.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,161 in Manavgat.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 24% more expensive than Manavgat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Manavgat26% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$6.91âš312
-33.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$27.66âš1,249
69.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$4.02âš182
119.90%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.65âš120
13.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$1.73âš78.1
-57.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.26âš11.65
42.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$2.68âš121
-8.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.74âš124
31.75%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.90âš40.73
151.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.99âš44.83
85.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.10âš49.75
103.64%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$1.78âš80.4
30.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$8.29âš374
137.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$5.43âš245
-32.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$19.29âš871
-32.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$0.70âš31.69
384.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.07âš93.6
-20.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$0.66âš29.89
265.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.10âš49.61
84.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.57âš25.54
173.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.28âš12.68
435.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.33âš14.80
209.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.34âš15.38
44.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$2.01âš90.8
121.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.46âš337
153.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.68âš75.9
5.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.14âš96.4
28.50%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.64âš28.80
118.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$30.98âš1,399
-62.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$1.05âš47.61
197.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.08âš48.60
-7.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$7.47âš337
88.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.24âš56.0
8.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$40.1Kâš1.8M
-32.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$42.0Kâš1.9M
-21.56%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$48.72âš2,199
156.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$7.99âš361
69.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$15.70âš709
17.96%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$42.83âš1,933
43.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$20.49âš925
-17.81%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$6.53âš295
40.74%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$601âš27.1K
16.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$8,914âš402.4K
74.92%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$48.23âš2,177
19.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$27.21âš1,228
29.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$107âš4,825
5.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$108âš4,886
-20.20%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$508âš22.9K
21.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$392âš17.7K
13.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$903âš40.8K
126.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$700âš31.6K
113.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,153âš52.0K
227.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$957âš43.2K
176.79%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Manavgat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$733âš33.1K
-28.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
20
-73.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Manavgat: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $508 in Manavgat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Manavgat pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $28.00 in Manavgat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $200 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 24% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $996 including rent). Manavgat is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Manavgat earns 40% 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: $616 in Phuket versus $508 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 â a meal for two runs $28.00 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 $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $996 in Manavgat â a 24% 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 $996 in Manavgat versus $1,232 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 â 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 â expenses run 24% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.