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 $635 in Mandalgovi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,067 in Mandalgovi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $1,500 in Mandalgovi, rent included.

Phuket costs about 99% more than Mandalgovi, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Phuket and Mandalgovi are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Mandalgovi 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 ฿154

$5.59 MNT 20.1K

-16.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.22 ฿1,065

$32.55 MNT 117.0K

-1.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

$5.52 MNT 19.8K

57.25%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿95.8

$2.37 MNT 8,528

22.36%

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

$0.84 ฿27.89

$0.85 MNT 3,042

-1.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.16

$0.57 MNT 2,050

-14.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿82.0

$2.30 MNT 8,268

7.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿123

$3.34 MNT 12.0K

11.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 ฿62.3

$1.45 MNT 5,198

30.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ฿46.54

$0.99 MNT 3,544

42.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.6

$2.08 MNT 7,490

-22.12%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.1

$2.16 MNT 7,775

3.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.84 ฿656

$12.31 MNT 44.3K

61.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿115

$4.78 MNT 17.2K

-27.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.37 ฿376

$7.10 MNT 25.5K

60.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.90 ฿95.8

$3.16 MNT 11.4K

-8.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿57.0

$2.34 MNT 8,428

-26.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿75.1

$3.77 MNT 13.5K

-39.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿70.4

$3.10 MNT 11.2K

-31.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.72

$0.76 MNT 2,745

93.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 ฿46.92

$1.04 MNT 3,738

36.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.25

$1.74 MNT 6,263

-36.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.76

$0.78 MNT 2,810

-23.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

$1.71 MNT 6,138

152.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 ฿615

$10.53 MNT 37.9K

76.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿59.5

$1.44 MNT 5,189

25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ฿98.0

$1.82 MNT 6,539

63.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.10 ฿102

$0.50 MNT 1,813

520.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.56

$0.57 MNT 2,050

89.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

$6.47 MNT 23.2K

-40.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.16

$1.07 MNT 3,857

33.64%

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

$27.8K ฿918.0K

$27.0K MNT 97.0M

2.97%

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

$27.0K ฿891.5K

$34.3K MNT 123.4M

-21.37%

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

$105 ฿3,462

$70.2 MNT 252.2K

49.39%

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

$11.39 ฿376

$7.50 MNT 27.0K

51.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.54 ฿580

$13.57 MNT 48.8K

29.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.3 ฿1,795

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$7.78 ฿257

$4.08 MNT 14.7K

90.69%

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

$576 ฿19.0K

$805 MNT 2.9M

-28.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿382.7K

$8,452 MNT 30.4M

37.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 ฿2,103

$81.9 MNT 294.6K

-22.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿961

$44.67 MNT 160.6K

-34.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.2 ฿3,179

$102 MNT 366.9K

-5.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 ฿2,974

$185 MNT 666.8K

-51.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$733 ฿24.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 ฿70.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,534 ฿116.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.32

-46.03%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mandalgovi: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $33.00 in Mandalgovi. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Phuket vs $237 in Mandalgovi – so Mandalgovi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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, $635 in Mandalgovi – roughly 99% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $952 in Mandalgovi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $635 in Mandalgovi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $576 per month in Phuket and $805 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 $635, 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 $635 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.