Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and NaguaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nagua
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $729 in Nagua, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,193 in Nagua, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,656 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 – Phuket5% lower, Nagua45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$8.52DOP 495
-47.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$51.2DOP 2,974
-10.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$7.32DOP 426
19.67%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$2.66DOP 155
11.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$1.04DOP 60.2
-33.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.84DOP 48.99
-53.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$2.60DOP 151
-2.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$5.01DOP 291
-25.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.34DOP 78.0
60.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$1.80DOP 105
1.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.56DOP 90.4
39.74%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$2.30DOP 134
-2.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$7.06DOP 410
183.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$6.43DOP 374
-43.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$10.82DOP 629
25.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$3.34DOP 194
-2.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$0.85DOP 49.63
92.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$3.04DOP 176
-23.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$1.98DOP 115
4.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$2.43DOP 141
-36.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$2.40DOP 139
-39.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$1.08DOP 62.8
-9.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.91DOP 53.1
-47.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$5.88DOP 342
-26.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$17.34DOP 1,008
7.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$2.72DOP 158
-31.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$3.20DOP 186
-17.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$3.37DOP 196
-5.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$2.12DOP 123
-51.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$5.82DOP 338
138.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.28DOP 74.3
4.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$26.6KDOP 1.5M
4.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$31.8KDOP 1.8M
4.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$77.6DOP 4,512
58.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$25.35DOP 1,473
-45.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$36.11DOP 2,098
-49.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$6.78DOP 394
30.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$263DOP 15.3K
162.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$7,946DOP 461.8K
98.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$59.1DOP 3,431
0.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$51.3DOP 2,983
-32.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$94.4DOP 5,485
22.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$117DOP 6,773
-28.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Nagua: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $51.0 in Nagua. Groceries tell a different story – $291 in Phuket vs $259 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: $1,264 in Phuket, $729 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 $1,896 per month in Phuket and $1,094 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 $1,264 in Phuket and $729 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 $688 per month in Phuket and $263 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 $729, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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 $729 in Nagua to $1,264 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.