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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $490 in Mandalgovi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $759 in Mandalgovi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,027 in Mandalgovi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 158% more than Mandalgovi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Mandalgovi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Mandalgovi 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$2.71 MNT 9,697

73.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$13.27 MNT 47.5K

241.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$5.28 MNT 18.9K

59.66%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$1.95 MNT 6,969

50.26%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.54 MNT 1,939

27.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.30 MNT 1,083

23.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.65 MNT 5,887

46.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$1.88 MNT 6,712

97.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.15 MNT 4,127

93.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.71 MNT 2,523

157.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.00 MNT 3,593

117.00%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.80 MNT 6,449

22.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$8.95 MNT 32.0K

120.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$5.23 MNT 18.7K

-30.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$4.60 MNT 16.5K

194.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$2.36 MNT 8,455

38.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$2.22 MNT 7,947

-27.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.95 MNT 6,958

23.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$2.32 MNT 8,301

-10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.50 MNT 1,801

206.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.00 MNT 3,590

48.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.27 MNT 4,541

-22.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.61 MNT 2,164

-16.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$1.35 MNT 4,821

226.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$10.00 MNT 35.7K

93.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.34 MNT 4,804

32.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$1.72 MNT 6,141

57.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.28 MNT 990

978.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.30 MNT 1,088

230.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$4.59 MNT 16.4K

207.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.82 MNT 2,929

65.85%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$19.7K MNT 70.4M

43.30%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$13.0K MNT 46.6M

152.43%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$41.71 MNT 149.1K

191.78%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$7.43 MNT 26.6K

82.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$10.61 MNT 37.9K

72.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$29.91 MNT 106.9K

101.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$4.47 MNT 16.0K

283.45%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$2.29 MNT 8,193

279.48%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$101 MNT 361.5K

585.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$6,340 MNT 22.7M

147.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$15.92 MNT 56.9K

273.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$19.05 MNT 68.1K

82.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$44.42 MNT 158.9K

157.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$35.73 MNT 127.8K

133.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$104 MNT 372.4K

488.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$72.6 MNT 259.8K

501.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$224 MNT 800.5K

835.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$133 MNT 477.2K

1031.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mandalgovi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $104 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $13.00 in Mandalgovi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $187 – 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: $1,265 in Phuket, $490 in Mandalgovi – roughly 158% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $735 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 $1,265 in Phuket and $490 in Mandalgovi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $101 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 $490, than in Phuket at $1,265. 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 $490 in Mandalgovi to $1,265 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.