Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mandalgovi Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mandalgovi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $479 in Mandalgovi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $762 in Mandalgovi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,046 in Mandalgovi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 161% more than Mandalgovi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Mandalgovi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Mandalgovi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$2.66 MNT 9,537

71.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$13.50 MNT 48.4K

242.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$5.46 MNT 19.6K

61.90%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.89 MNT 6,790

61.90%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.54 MNT 1,952

35.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.30 MNT 1,088

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$1.60 MNT 5,738

51.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$1.97 MNT 7,047

91.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.20 MNT 4,294

88.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.72 MNT 2,566

151.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.01 MNT 3,614

122.77%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$1.73 MNT 6,215

30.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$9.04 MNT 32.4K

115.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$5.18 MNT 18.6K

-29.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$4.63 MNT 16.6K

181.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$2.34 MNT 8,371

38.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$2.25 MNT 8,079

-28.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$1.89 MNT 6,764

25.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$2.39 MNT 8,575

-15.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.51 MNT 1,814

200.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.02 MNT 3,648

47.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$1.30 MNT 4,644

-24.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.60 MNT 2,158

-13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$1.34 MNT 4,820

231.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$10.55 MNT 37.8K

73.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.34 MNT 4,789

38.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$1.77 MNT 6,342

51.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$0.28 MNT 990

1010.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$0.30 MNT 1,087

246.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$4.82 MNT 17.3K

192.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$0.77 MNT 2,764

70.13%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$19.9K MNT 71.4M

39.60%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$13.2K MNT 47.5M

150.71%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿4,118

$41.07 MNT 147.2K

198.13%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.59 ฿457

$7.63 MNT 27.3K

78.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$10.39 MNT 37.2K

79.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$29.77 MNT 106.7K

103.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

$4.54 MNT 16.3K

274.01%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$2.30 MNT 8,247

294.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$706 ฿23.8K

$104 MNT 372.3K

580.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$6,450 MNT 23.1M

145.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$15.99 MNT 57.3K

266.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$19.15 MNT 68.6K

84.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$44.27 MNT 158.7K

160.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$35.75 MNT 128.2K

134.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$101 MNT 362.1K

519.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$74.3 MNT 266.3K

499.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$223 MNT 800.2K

813.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$133 MNT 477.0K

1021.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-11.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mandalgovi: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $101 in Mandalgovi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $14.00 in Mandalgovi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $189 – making Mandalgovi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Mandalgovi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,250 in Phuket, $479 in Mandalgovi – roughly 161% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $718 in Mandalgovi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mandalgovi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,250 in Phuket and $479 in Mandalgovi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $104 in Mandalgovi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mandalgovi, where all-in costs run around $479, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Mandalgovi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $479 in Mandalgovi to $1,250 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mandalgovi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.