Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nagua Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nagua

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $711 in Nagua, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,196 in Nagua, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,680 in Nagua, rent included.

Phuket costs about 73% more than Nagua, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Phuket and Nagua are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Nagua 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$8.67 DOP 513
-46.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$50.5 DOP 2,982
-7.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$7.20 DOP 426
22.78%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$2.72 DOP 161
10.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$0.99 DOP 58.5
-25.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.77 DOP 45.63
-51.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$2.59 DOP 153
-5.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$4.98 DOP 294
-27.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.38 DOP 81.7
63.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$1.72 DOP 101
6.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.51 DOP 89.0
48.34%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$2.20 DOP 130
5.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$6.94 DOP 410
183.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$6.46 DOP 382
-43.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$11.09 DOP 656
18.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$3.31 DOP 196
2.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$0.92 DOP 54.3
78.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$2.87 DOP 170
-16.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$1.99 DOP 118
2.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$2.46 DOP 145
-36.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$2.32 DOP 137
-35.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$1.14 DOP 67.1
-10.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.89 DOP 52.3
-44.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$5.76 DOP 340
-22.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$11.76 DOP 695
60.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$2.62 DOP 155
-32.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$3.22 DOP 190
-14.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$3.34 DOP 198
-6.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$2.21 DOP 131
-54.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$5.79 DOP 342
143.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.27 DOP 75.0
6.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$26.1K DOP 1.5M
4.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$31.2K DOP 1.8M
5.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$77.1 DOP 4,555
62.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$25.79 DOP 1,524
-47.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$35.94 DOP 2,124
-48.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$6.91 DOP 408
33.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$268 DOP 15.8K
160.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$8,150 DOP 481.6K
91.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$60.3 DOP 3,561
-4.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$52.0 DOP 3,071
-32.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$96.5 DOP 5,700
17.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$118 DOP 6,948
-26.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
12.9
-58.68%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Nagua: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $50.0 in Nagua. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $246 in Nagua – so Nagua wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Nagua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Nagua compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $711 in Nagua – roughly 73% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Nagua?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,066 in Nagua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Nagua?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $711 in Nagua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Nagua?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $268 in Nagua. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nagua, where all-in costs run around $711, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Nagua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Nagua?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $711 in Nagua to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Nagua safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Phuket and Nagua?
If budget matters most, go with Nagua. 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.

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