Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Manizales Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Manizales

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $751 in Manizales, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,070 in Manizales, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,389 in Manizales, rent included.

Phuket costs about 68% more than Manizales, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Manizales are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Manizales 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$3.66 COP 12.8K

24.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$17.07 COP 59.6K

173.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$7.65 COP 26.7K

10.72%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$1.34 COP 4,692

126.12%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.75 COP 2,607

-8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.56 COP 1,949

-33.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$1.08 COP 3,765

130.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.16 COP 7,549

69.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$0.95 COP 3,321

129.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$1.47 COP 5,136

29.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.13 COP 3,928

94.69%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$1.90 COP 6,615

16.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$4.67 COP 16.3K

328.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$5.00 COP 17.4K

-26.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$7.16 COP 25.0K

85.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$3.11 COP 10.9K

3.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$1.00 COP 3,493

70.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$1.35 COP 4,722

77.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$1.29 COP 4,499

61.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.12 COP 3,906

41.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.17 COP 4,079

26.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$0.71 COP 2,494

45.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.79 COP 2,755

-34.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$2.44 COP 8,516

74.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$9.82 COP 34.3K

91.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.15 COP 4,000

53.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$1.94 COP 6,777

42.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.65 COP 2,260

109.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

$27.57 COP 96.2K

-58.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$1.19 COP 4,144

163.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

$1.29 COP 4,489

-19.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

$5.98 COP 20.9K

130.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$0.97 COP 3,372

38.14%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$15.9K COP 55.5M

73.94%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$24.6K COP 86.0M

37.49%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$58.8 COP 205.1K

110.26%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$9.28 COP 32.4K

45.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$25.75 COP 89.9K

-27.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$27.70 COP 96.7K

123.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$19.57 COP 68.3K

-11.85%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$3.21 COP 11.2K

184.74%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$239 COP 833.3K

194.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$8,430 COP 29.4M

88.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$37.98 COP 132.6K

56.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$30.67 COP 107.0K

14.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$63.5 COP 221.6K

81.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$59.8 COP 208.5K

40.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$263 COP 918.6K

135.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$221 COP 770.5K

95.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$439 COP 1.5M

369.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$296 COP 1.0M

409.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

$1,606 COP 5.6M

126.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

$1,485 COP 5.2M

76.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$753 COP 2.6M

-32.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-51.55%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Manizales: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $263 in Manizales. 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 49% higher in Manizales, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $17.00 in Manizales. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $177 – making Manizales 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 Manizales: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Phuket, $751 in Manizales – roughly 68% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,126 in Manizales. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 65% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $17.00 in Manizales. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Manizales, where all-in costs run around $751, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Manizales 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 $751 in Manizales to $1,261 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 Manizales. 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.