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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $766 in Manizales, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,743 in Manizales, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $2,721 in Manizales, rent included.

Phuket costs about 61% more than Manizales, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Phuket and Manizales are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Manizales 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$6.42 COP 20.0K

-31.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$41.11 COP 128.3K

-21.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$10.27 COP 32.0K

-13.05%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.56 COP 7,974

13.28%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$1.37 COP 4,287

-35.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.83 COP 2,594

-42.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$1.59 COP 4,950

47.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$2.61 COP 8,147

42.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.61 COP 5,038

16.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$2.44 COP 7,617

-39.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$1.67 COP 5,206

-7.19%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$3.85 COP 12.0K

-45.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$7.91 COP 24.7K

147.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$7.50 COP 23.4K

-54.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$10.86 COP 33.9K

4.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$3.54 COP 11.1K

-15.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.82 COP 5,693

-7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.05 COP 6,404

7.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$1.85 COP 5,768

16.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$1.54 COP 4,799

-1.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$1.46 COP 4,554

-8.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$1.39 COP 4,335

-18.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$1.22 COP 3,822

-54.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$4.59 COP 14.3K

-7.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$12.73 COP 39.7K

49.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$1.44 COP 4,478

23.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$2.86 COP 8,923

-2.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

$1.08 COP 3,363

106.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$1.64 COP 5,121

84.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$1.64 COP 5,107

-37.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$9.88 COP 30.8K

-60.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$1.38 COP 4,297

7.97%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$22.3K COP 69.6M

19.26%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$35.3K COP 110.1M

-23.38%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$129 COP 401.8K

-20.42%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$12.46 COP 38.9K

-9.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$31.40 COP 98.0K

-44.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$7.95 COP 24.8K

-3.27%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$489 COP 1.5M

14.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$6,507 COP 20.3M

76.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$83.4 COP 260.3K

-24.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$49.64 COP 154.9K

-40.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$144 COP 448.8K

-31.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$112 COP 350.2K

-21.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$1,041 COP 3.2M

102.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$1,038 COP 3.2M

18.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

$2,136 COP 6.7M

69.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

$2,123 COP 6.6M

22.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$1,213 COP 3.8M

-59.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-53.58%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Manizales: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 146% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $41.00 in Manizales. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $269 in Manizales – so Manizales 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 Manizales: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $766 in Manizales – roughly 61% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,149 in Manizales. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $766 in Manizales. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $489 in Manizales. 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 Manizales, where all-in costs run around $766, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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 $766 in Manizales to $1,232 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.