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 $663 in Nagua, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,068 in Nagua, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,473 in Nagua, rent included.

Phuket costs about 86% more than Nagua, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Phuket and Nagua are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Nagua 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$8.68 DOP 511
-49.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,073
$42.76 DOP 2,520
-24.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$7.06 DOP 416
26.49%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.3
$1.85 DOP 109
56.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.27
$0.75 DOP 43.91
17.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.00
$0.41 DOP 24.23
17.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.2
$2.60 DOP 153
-9.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$4.15 DOP 245
-10.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.0
$1.18 DOP 69.8
58.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.75
$1.77 DOP 104
-16.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$1.61 DOP 95.1
-3.73%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿69.9
$1.55 DOP 91.6
35.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿651
$6.32 DOP 372
209.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$3.61 DOP 213
-5.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿378
$4.93 DOP 290
130.83%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.2
$3.71 DOP 219
-19.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.0
$1.42 DOP 83.7
18.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.5
$3.43 DOP 202
-35.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿71.9
$2.21 DOP 130
-2.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$3.65 DOP 215
-58.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.49
$2.91 DOP 172
-53.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.53
$0.96 DOP 56.5
17.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.17
$1.64 DOP 96.8
-66.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$4.94 DOP 291
-13.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿635
$16.75 DOP 987
13.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.2
$3.11 DOP 183
-42.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.5
$3.46 DOP 204
-19.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.1
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿756
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$2.50 DOP 147
21.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.02
$3.36 DOP 198
-69.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿129
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.57
$1.39 DOP 81.7
7.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿883.8K
$15.1K DOP 889.3K
76.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿898.7K
$25.3K DOP 1.5M
7.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,407
$98.9 DOP 5,829
3.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿377
$27.88 DOP 1,643
-59.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿578
$39.99 DOP 2,357
-56.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,732
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿256
$5.00 DOP 295
53.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.6K
$153 DOP 8,991
267.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿382.6K
$5,657 DOP 333.3K
103.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,096
$27.30 DOP 1,609
130.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿982
$46.70 DOP 2,752
-36.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,259
$62.4 DOP 3,678
57.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,943
$67.2 DOP 3,962
31.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11
-49.36%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Nagua: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $43.00 in Nagua. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $242 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 in Nagua compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $663 in Nagua – roughly 86% 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 $995 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 $663 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 $561 per month in Phuket and $153 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 $663, 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 $663 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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