Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and NaguaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nagua
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,223 per month in Phuket vs $734 in Nagua, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Phuket vs $1,218 in Nagua, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,251 per month in Phuket vs $1,701 in Nagua, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 67% more than Nagua, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Phuket and Nagua are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Nagua45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$8.48DOP 494
-46.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$51.1DOP 2,976
-8.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$7.24DOP 422
17.27%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$2.76DOP 161
11.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$0.99DOP 57.8
-31.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$0.83DOP 48.32
-56.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$2.60DOP 152
-6.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$5.24DOP 305
-30.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$1.39DOP 81.3
57.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$1.80DOP 105
0.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$1.57DOP 91.6
42.04%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$2.19DOP 127
2.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$6.99DOP 407
180.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$6.34DOP 370
-41.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
$11.16DOP 650
20.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$3.21DOP 187
4.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$0.93DOP 54.0
74.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$2.88DOP 168
-16.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$2.01DOP 117
-1.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$2.46DOP 143
-37.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$2.31DOP 134
-37.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$1.12DOP 65.5
-9.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$0.92DOP 53.6
-47.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$5.73DOP 334
-25.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$17.32DOP 1,009
10.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$2.70DOP 158
-31.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$3.10DOP 181
-11.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$3.35DOP 195
-10.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$2.14DOP 124
-50.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$6.10DOP 356
127.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$1.33DOP 77.3
-3.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$26.1KDOP 1.5M
7.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$31.1KDOP 1.8M
7.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$76.7DOP 4,469
59.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$25.42DOP 1,481
-45.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$36.32DOP 2,116
-48.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$6.61DOP 385
34.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$266DOP 15.5K
160.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$8,150DOP 474.9K
98.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$60.7DOP 3,536
-4.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$51.9DOP 3,021
-31.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$98.0DOP 5,709
15.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$116DOP 6,783
-28.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Nagua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
-
-
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: June 13, 2026
Last update for Nagua: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $51.0 in Nagua. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $258 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: $1,223 in Phuket, $734 in Nagua – roughly 67% 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 $1,835 per month in Phuket and $1,102 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 $1,223 in Phuket and $734 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 $691 per month in Phuket and $266 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 $734, than in Phuket at $1,223. 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 $734 in Nagua to $1,223 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.