Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mugla Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mugla

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,091 in Mugla, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,779 in Mugla, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $2,468 in Mugla, rent included.

Phuket costs about 16% more than Mugla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Mugla are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Mugla 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$7.68 ₺353

-38.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$25.28 ₺1,162

79.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$7.82 ₺360

7.80%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$3.32 ₺153

-11.75%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$1.06 ₺48.58

-34.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.39 ₺17.75

-5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$3.35 ₺154

-28.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$3.77 ₺173

-1.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$0.88 ₺40.64

153.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$0.61 ₺28.06

200.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$2.24 ₺103

-3.13%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.24 ₺103

-1.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$9.88 ₺454

99.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$6.18 ₺284

-41.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$18.33 ₺842

-26.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.19 ₺54.8

175.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.93 ₺88.7

-16.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$0.95 ₺43.71

153.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.29 ₺59.4

61.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.72 ₺32.99

112.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.53 ₺24.44

179.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.88 ₺40.26

12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$0.40 ₺18.27

27.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$2.06 ₺94.9

114.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$6.01 ₺276

222.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$2.11 ₺96.9

-15.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$2.58 ₺118

5.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.57 ₺26.27

140.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$30.56 ₺1,404

-62.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.80 ₺36.59

277.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.56 ₺25.85

76.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$5.54 ₺255

154.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.20 ₺55.0

13.33%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$48.6K ₺2.2M

-41.93%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$45.4K ₺2.1M

-27.50%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$47.57 ₺2,185

155.83%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$5.50 ₺253

146.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$8.86 ₺407

106.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$89.6 ₺4,118

-32.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$16.99 ₺780

0.88%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$4.57 ₺210

90.15%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$646 ₺29.7K

7.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$8,897 ₺408.8K

76.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$37.42 ₺1,719

59.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$34.84 ₺1,601

-0.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$85.3 ₺3,918

34.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$44.02 ₺2,022

89.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$583 ₺26.8K

5.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$451 ₺20.7K

-3.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$1,816 ₺83.4K

15.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$968 ₺44.5K

55.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$1,529 ₺70.3K

145.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$866 ₺39.8K

202.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$1,192 ₺54.8K

-57.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

30.12

-82.30%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mugla: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $583 in Mugla. 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 135% higher in Mugla, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in Mugla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $215 – making Mugla 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 Mugla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 16% more than Mugla, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,636 in Mugla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $646 in Mugla. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mugla, where all-in costs run around $1,091, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Mugla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mugla costs $1,091 versus $1,265 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Mugla. 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.