Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Matagalpa Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Matagalpa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $855 in Matagalpa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,273 in Matagalpa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,690 in Matagalpa, rent included.

Phuket costs about 48% more than Matagalpa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Matagalpa are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Matagalpa 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$4.98 NIO 182

-5.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$25.36 NIO 929

78.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$6.84 NIO 251

23.25%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$2.35 NIO 86.0

24.68%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.79 NIO 29.11

-12.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.47 NIO 17.18

-21.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.23 NIO 45.12

95.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.02 NIO 73.9

84.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.19 NIO 43.48

87.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.46 NIO 53.6

25.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.64 NIO 59.9

32.32%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.26 NIO 82.9

-2.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$1.90 NIO 69.7

938.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$4.12 NIO 151

-11.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$6.80 NIO 249

98.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$4.00 NIO 146

-18.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$0.84 NIO 30.59

91.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.84 NIO 67.6

30.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$2.26 NIO 82.8

-7.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.09 NIO 39.89

40.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$2.19 NIO 80.4

-32.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.68 NIO 24.87

45.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.97 NIO 35.61

-47.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$2.74 NIO 100

60.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$10.14 NIO 371

91.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.24 NIO 45.50

43.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$2.16 NIO 79.0

25.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.49 NIO 18.06

179.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.90 NIO 32.98

235.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.92 NIO 33.53

7.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$6.67 NIO 244

111.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.31 NIO 47.97

3.82%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$22.8K NIO 834.0K

23.85%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$26.6K NIO 973.2K

23.82%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$52.4 NIO 1,918

132.34%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$17.25 NIO 632

-21.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$35.02 NIO 1,283

-47.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$7.82 NIO 287

11.13%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$98.7 NIO 3,616

602.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$6,013 NIO 220.2K

160.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$77.4 NIO 2,834

-23.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$71.4 NIO 2,614

-51.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$131 NIO 4,799

-12.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$108 NIO 3,951

-22.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$157 NIO 5,739

291.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$260 NIO 9,511

68.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$544 NIO 19.9K

285.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$373 NIO 13.7K

304.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$101 NIO 3,717

400.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

10.25

-48.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Matagalpa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $157 in Matagalpa. 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 401% higher in Phuket, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in Matagalpa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $185 – making Matagalpa 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 Matagalpa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $855 in Matagalpa – roughly 48% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,283 in Matagalpa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $25.00 in Matagalpa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 58% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Matagalpa, where all-in costs run around $855, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Matagalpa 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 $855 in Matagalpa 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 Matagalpa. 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.