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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $864 in Matagalpa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,292 in Matagalpa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,720 in Matagalpa, rent included.

Phuket costs about 45% more than Matagalpa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Matagalpa are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Matagalpa 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$4.92 NIO 180

-7.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$25.19 NIO 923

83.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$7.15 NIO 262

23.64%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$2.34 NIO 85.8

30.77%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.78 NIO 28.54

-6.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.43 NIO 15.82

-6.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$1.18 NIO 43.27

105.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$1.98 NIO 72.4

90.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.16 NIO 42.35

94.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$1.54 NIO 56.3

17.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.56 NIO 57.2

44.23%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$2.23 NIO 81.8

0.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$1.96 NIO 71.8

895.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$4.30 NIO 157

-15.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$6.68 NIO 245

95.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$3.83 NIO 140

-15.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$0.89 NIO 32.59

82.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$1.76 NIO 64.3

35.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$2.28 NIO 83.5

-10.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$1.12 NIO 41.15

36.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$2.24 NIO 82.1

-33.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.73 NIO 26.79

34.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$1.02 NIO 37.38

-49.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$2.73 NIO 100.0

62.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$10.06 NIO 369

82.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.21 NIO 44.37

53.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$2.28 NIO 83.4

17.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.45 NIO 16.63

213.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$0.86 NIO 31.55

261.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$0.93 NIO 34.01

11.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$6.67 NIO 244

111.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$1.35 NIO 49.60

-2.96%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$23.2K NIO 851.5K

19.64%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$26.6K NIO 975.3K

24.73%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$53.4 NIO 1,956

129.29%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$16.87 NIO 618

-19.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$36.28 NIO 1,329

-48.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$8.08 NIO 296

12.25%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$101 NIO 3,697

599.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$6,054 NIO 221.7K

161.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$77.5 NIO 2,838

-24.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$73.4 NIO 2,688

-51.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$133 NIO 4,867

-13.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$107 NIO 3,910

-21.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$155 NIO 5,675

303.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$264 NIO 9,669

68.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$556 NIO 20.4K

266.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$381 NIO 14.0K

291.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$99.0 NIO 3,626

404.80%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Matagalpa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $155 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 405% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in Matagalpa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $186 – 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: $1,250 in Phuket, $864 in Matagalpa – roughly 45% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,295 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 $46.00 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 55% 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 $864, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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 $864 in Matagalpa to $1,250 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.