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 $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $689 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $1,068 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $1,447 in Mianyang, Sichuan, rent included.

Phuket costs about 77% more than Mianyang, Sichuan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Mianyang, Sichuan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Mianyang, Sichuan 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

$2.75 ¥18.61

64.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

$16.68 ¥113

179.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

$4.95 ¥33.41

71.52%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

$2.90 ¥19.59

6.21%

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

$0.68 ฿22.07

$0.44 ¥2.96

54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

$0.29 ¥1.97

24.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

$1.12 ¥7.57

116.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

$2.15 ¥14.50

68.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

$1.35 ¥9.14

62.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

$1.45 ¥9.77

24.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

$0.85 ¥5.77

162.35%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

$1.94 ¥13.11

15.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

$13.69 ¥92.5

43.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

$3.31 ¥22.35

12.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

$11.33 ¥76.6

18.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

$1.80 ¥12.14

86.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

$1.17 ¥7.87

38.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

$1.44 ¥9.72

67.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

$1.03 ¥6.95

93.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

$0.70 ¥4.72

118.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

$0.76 ¥5.16

90.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

$0.58 ¥3.95

74.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

$0.58 ¥3.89

-17.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

$3.42 ¥23.09

24.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

$5.39 ¥36.44

254.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

$0.82 ¥5.51

124.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

$1.27 ¥8.58

115.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

$0.27 ¥1.81

425.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

$16.78 ¥113

-30.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

$0.98 ¥6.63

206.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

$0.26 ¥1.77

303.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

$4.25 ¥28.71

227.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

$1.16 ¥7.85

11.21%

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

$28.0K ฿911.1K

$18.9K ¥127.6K

48.38%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$16.3K ¥110.1K

105.55%

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

$122 ฿3,964

$43.92 ¥297

177.73%

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

$13.93 ฿453

$6.03 ¥40.76

131.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

$11.47 ¥77.5

64.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

$41.75 ¥282

46.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

$13.76 ¥93.0

22.38%

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

$5.33 ¥35.99

66.79%

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

$691 ฿22.5K

$343 ¥2,314

101.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

$12.1K ¥81.4K

34.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

$36.91 ¥249

56.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

$39.05 ¥264

-9.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

$54.8 ¥370

106.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

$51.2 ¥346

62.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

$280 ¥1,893

116.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

$190 ¥1,281

136.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

$591 ¥3,994

243.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

$362 ¥2,445

312.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

$2,626 ¥17.7K

36.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

$1,763 ¥11.9K

46.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

$737 ¥4,978

-31.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

3.1

71.94%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Mianyang, Sichuan: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $607 in Phuket versus $280 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $17.00 in Mianyang, Sichuan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $188 – 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: $1,223 in Phuket, $689 in Mianyang, Sichuan – roughly 77% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,835 per month in Phuket and $1,034 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.

Kindergarten costs $691 per month in Phuket and $343 in Mianyang, Sichuan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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 Mianyang, Sichuan, where all-in costs run around $689, than in Phuket at $1,223. 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 $689 in Mianyang, Sichuan to $1,223 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.