Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and ManisaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Manisa
Monthly Cost of Living
ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $968 in Manisa.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,461 in Manisa.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,955 in Manisa.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 27% more expensive than Manisa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Manisa28% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Manisa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$7.56âš341
-38.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$19.16âš865
144.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$7.75âš350
14.06%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.97âš134
1.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$1.73âš78.0
-57.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.49âš22.30
-24.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$3.10âš140
-21.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$3.77âš170
-4.24%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Manisa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.95âš42.80
137.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$0.66âš29.83
178.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.79âš81.0
25.14%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$1.88âš85.1
23.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$8.71âš393
125.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$5.94âš268
-38.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$20.00âš903
-34.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.25âš56.3
171.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.85âš83.4
-11.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$0.97âš43.78
148.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.16âš52.2
75.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.70âš31.82
122.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.60âš27.00
150.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.79âš35.69
29.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.20âš9.02
145.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$2.27âš103
96.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$11.72âš529
61.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$2.03âš91.7
-12.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.63âš119
4.56%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Manisa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.63âš28.48
122.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$30.87âš1,393
-62.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$1.04âš47.13
200.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.62âš27.97
61.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$7.80âš352
80.64%
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
$48.6Kâš2.2M
-44.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$44.0Kâš2.0M
-25.23%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Manisa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$47.48âš2,143
163.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$5.58âš252
143.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$9.02âš407
105.32%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Manisa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$43.85âš1,979
40.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$4.55âš205
101.98%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Manisa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$602âš27.2K
16.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$8,827âš398.4K
76.65%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Manisa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$37.46âš1,691
54.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$39.76âš1,795
-11.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$84.7âš3,823
33.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$43.87âš1,980
96.90%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Manisa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$484âš21.8K
27.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$344âš15.5K
29.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$704âš31.8K
190.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$561âš25.3K
166.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,989âš89.8K
89.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$1,326âš59.9K
99.72%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Manisa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$1,150âš51.9K
-54.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
43.79
-87.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Manisa: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $484 in Manisa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Manisa pays 120% 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 $19.00 in Manisa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $221 per month, with Manisa 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 Manisa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manisa cheaper than Phuket?
Manisa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Manisa?
On paper, Manisa earns 120% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Manisa?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $484 in Manisa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Manisa?
Dining out is cheaper in Manisa â a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Manisa?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $968 in Manisa â a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Manisa?
At $968 in Manisa versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Manisa but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Manisa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Manisa more family-friendly?
For families, Manisa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Manisa?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Manisa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Manisa gentler on the wallet â expenses run 27% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.