Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mianyang, Sichuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mianyang, Sichuan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $645 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $988 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,331 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

Phuket costs about 91% more than Mianyang, Sichuan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Mianyang, Sichuan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Mianyang, Sichuan 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$2.91 ¥19.48

51.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$17.69 ¥118

82.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$5.05 ¥33.86

76.83%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.85 ¥19.10

1.75%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$0.47 ¥3.12

87.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$0.28 ¥1.90

71.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$1.52 ¥10.18

54.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$2.47 ¥16.56

50.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.53 ¥10.22

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$1.67 ¥11.16

-11.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$0.89 ¥5.93

74.16%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$1.59 ¥10.63

32.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$14.51 ¥97.2

35.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$3.47 ¥23.22

-1.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$10.99 ¥73.6

3.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$1.88 ¥12.58

58.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.31 ¥8.76

28.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.07 ¥7.17

106.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$1.24 ¥8.31

74.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$0.75 ¥5.03

102.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$0.73 ¥4.88

83.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$0.58 ¥3.92

94.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$0.59 ¥3.96

-6.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$3.70 ¥24.79

15.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$5.61 ¥37.56

240.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$0.83 ¥5.59

114.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$1.37 ¥9.18

102.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

$0.29 ¥1.91

668.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$1.05 ¥7.06

188.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$0.28 ¥1.90

264.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$4.53 ¥30.37

-14.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$1.28 ¥8.60

16.41%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$19.0K ¥127.2K

40.01%

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$17.4K ¥116.2K

55.75%

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

$102 ฿3,420

$40.65 ¥272

152.08%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$6.63 ¥44.38

70.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$12.84 ¥86.0

35.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$18.16 ¥122

186.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$5.64 ¥37.75

36.35%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$416 ¥2,785

34.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$15.0K ¥100.2K

-23.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$28.82 ¥193

118.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$30.35 ¥203

-2.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$59.2 ¥397

65.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$52.6 ¥352

68.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$220 ¥1,473

235.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$192 ¥1,287

151.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$420 ¥2,812

401.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$327 ¥2,188

275.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

$2,638 ¥17.7K

37.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

$1,780 ¥11.9K

46.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$722 ¥4,836

-31.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

3.1

79.68%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Mianyang, Sichuan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $220 in Mianyang, Sichuan. 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 46% higher in Mianyang, Sichuan, 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 $18.00 in Mianyang, Sichuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $274 vs $195 – making Mianyang, Sichuan 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 Mianyang, Sichuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $645 in Mianyang, Sichuan – roughly 91% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $968 in Mianyang, Sichuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $645 in Mianyang, Sichuan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $561 per month in Phuket and $416 in Mianyang, Sichuan. 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 Mianyang, Sichuan, where all-in costs run around $645, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Mianyang, Sichuan 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 $645 in Mianyang, Sichuan 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 Mianyang, Sichuan. 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.