Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mandurah

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $2,351 in Mandurah, rent and utilities included – about $13,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Mandurah
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,351
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Mandurah

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Mandurah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,207 per month in Phuket vs $2,351 in Mandurah, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Mandurah $2,351

A couple spends around $2,037 per month in Phuket vs $3,455 in Mandurah, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Mandurah $3,455

A family of three spends $2,867 per month in Phuket vs $4,558 in Mandurah, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Mandurah $4,558

Phuket is about 49% cheaper than Mandurah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 11% below the global median, while Mandurah is 74% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Mandurah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿154
$20.01 A$28.66
-77.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,090
$83.0 A$119
-60.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿287
$10.49 A$15.02
-18.49%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.4
$4.34 A$6.22
-37.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.38
$2.92 A$4.18
-67.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.46
$2.21 A$3.17
-77.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.9
$6.09 A$8.73
-57.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿129
$8.54 A$12.23
-55.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mandurah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.3
$1.77 A$2.53
-1.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿48.02
$2.59 A$3.71
-44.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.2
$1.97 A$2.82
-22.34%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿73.0
$4.81 A$6.89
-54.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿643
$9.39 A$13.45
103.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$9.42 A$13.50
-64.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿374
$14.07 A$20.16
-20.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.9
$3.33 A$4.77
-11.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.4
$3.07 A$4.39
-45.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿77.1
$3.47 A$4.97
-33.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.6
$4.90 A$7.02
-56.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.3
$1.68 A$2.41
-8.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.74
$0.82 A$1.18
65.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.60
$2.01 A$2.87
-44.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.31
$1.38 A$1.98
-60.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿143
$42.22 A$60.5
-89.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿611
$12.30 A$17.62
47.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.5
$4.35 A$6.24
-60.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.7
$3.52 A$5.04
-20.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Mandurah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.4
$3.75 A$5.37
-40.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿740
$90.6 A$130
-75.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.7
$3.55 A$5.09
-18.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.94
$1.44 A$2.06
-29.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$40.41 A$57.9
-90.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿50.1
$1.28 A$1.84
16.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.4K
$27.5K A$39.4K
-2.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿896.4K
$29.9K A$42.8K
-10.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mandurah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,335
$195 A$279
-48.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿379
$20.91 A$29.96
-46.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿583
$61.0 A$87.4
-71.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mandurah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,755
$33.81 A$48.44
54.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿364
$10.60 A$15.18
2.36%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿254
$8.56 A$12.26
-11.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mandurah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$386 A$552
44.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿385.5K
$22.8K A$32.7K
-49.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mandurah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,110
$77.5 A$111
-18.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿959
$44.43 A$63.7
-35.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,226
$120 A$172
-20.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,955
$75.3 A$108
16.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mandurah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.5K
$1,418 A$2,032
-48.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$1,107 A$1,585
-58.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.3K
$2,395 A$3,431
-12.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿41.0K
$1,756 A$2,515
-30.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿116.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mandurah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$4,177 A$5,984
-88.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.7
-2.28%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Mandurah: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Mandurah
$1.1K 141% $647
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Mandurah
$346 29.4% $79
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Mandurah
$277 116% $149
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Mandurah
$143 15.2% $19
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Mandurah
$312 157% $190
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Mandurah
$51 24.5% $16
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Mandurah
$116 199% $78

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $729 in Phuket versus $1,418 in Mandurah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 747% higher in Mandurah, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $83.0 in Mandurah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $346 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇦🇺 Mandurah
🕒 Local time
04:20 4:20 AM
05:20 5:20 AM
1 h ahead of Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
107,643
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 33.56 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.698 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.624 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Mandurah 4,850 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Mandurah

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Mandurah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Mandurah?
Mandurah costs about 95% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Mandurah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,811 per month in Phuket and $3,527 in Mandurah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Mandurah?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Mandurah?
Kindergarten costs $558 per month in Phuket and $386 in Mandurah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Mandurah?
Groceries cost about 29% more in Mandurah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Mandurah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,207, than in Mandurah at $2,351. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mandurah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Mandurah?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,207 versus $2,351 in Mandurah. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Mandurah?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or to Mandurah?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mandurah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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