Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Naga Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Naga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $779 in Naga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,145 in Naga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,510 in Naga.

Living in Phuket is roughly 62% more expensive than in Naga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Naga 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$3.45 ₱212

29.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,525

$18.03 ₱1,107

152.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿293

$3.29 ₱202

166.26%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.3

$2.46 ₱151

20.73%

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

$0.69 ฿22.96

$0.83 ₱50.9

-16.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.07

$0.37 ₱22.43

5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.7

$1.36 ₱83.6

86.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$2.17 ₱133

72.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.8

$1.90 ₱117

13.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.7

$1.27 ₱77.9

43.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿73.1

$0.86 ₱52.9

153.49%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.2

$1.72 ₱105

30.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿669

$8.23 ₱506

143.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$4.20 ₱258

-13.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿453

$7.50 ₱460

80.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿109

$2.90 ₱178

11.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.7

$1.57 ₱96.6

4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿78.0

$2.70 ₱166

-13.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.3

$1.55 ₱95.4

33.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$2.32 ₱142

-33.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.67

$2.54 ₱156

-42.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.94

$1.06 ₱65.1

-7.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.13

$0.76 ₱46.86

-36.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿146

$2.60 ₱159

67.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿621

$3.85 ₱237

382.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.1

$1.21 ₱74.2

53.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.8

$1.97 ₱121

34.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.40

$0.28 ₱17.38

407.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿387

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$0.81 ₱49.87

291.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.51

$0.22 ₱13.47

368.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿465

$2.08 ₱128

567.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.96

$1.11 ₱67.9

20.72%

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

$27.8K ฿929.6K

$26.9K ₱1.7M

3.40%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

65.45%

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

$123 ฿4,116

$113 ₱6,937

8.91%

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

$13.77 ฿461

$32.32 ₱1,985

-57.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿613

$26.39 ₱1,620

-30.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,030

$34.42 ₱2,114

76.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿574

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿297

$5.76 ₱354

53.99%

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

$688 ฿23.0K

$153 ₱9,418

348.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿527.8K

$4,369 ₱268.2K

261.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,984

$45.11 ₱2,770

31.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,160

$27.01 ₱1,659

28.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,853

$75.4 ₱4,630

52.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,802

$53.7 ₱3,299

55.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.8K

$267 ₱16.4K

133.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$173 ₱10.6K

157.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿68.0K

$323 ₱19.8K

529.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿50.0K

$266 ₱16.3K

462.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$147 ₱9,033

235.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.67

-20.09%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Naga: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $267 in Naga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 236% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $18.00 in Naga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $196 per month, with Naga cheaper across the board.

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 Naga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Naga differ by about 62% in total monthly costs ($1,264 vs $779 including rent). Naga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 236% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $267 in Naga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $779 in Naga – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $779 in Naga versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Naga but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Naga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Naga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Naga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.