😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $692 in Toledo City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,103 in Toledo City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,513 in Toledo City.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 81% more expensive than in Toledo City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Toledo City48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Toledo City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$2.61₱160
74.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,554
$21.49₱1,323
114.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿298
$3.56₱219
148.31%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$1.99₱123
53.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.42
$0.56₱34.72
30.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.40
$0.30₱18.32
33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$0.93₱57.3
161.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$1.75₱108
116.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Toledo City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.77₱109
27.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.21₱74.7
49.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$0.88₱54.3
155.68%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.6
$2.15₱132
4.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$6.00₱369
225.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$4.20₱259
-13.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$7.08₱436
84.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.36₱145
36.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.20₱73.6
35.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.2
$1.95₱120
22.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.2
$1.55₱95.6
30.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$2.49₱154
-38.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.15₱71.0
30.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.93
$1.69₱104
-42.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.40
$0.91₱55.8
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$1.20₱73.7
270.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$4.19₱258
337.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.22₱75.0
52.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.2
$1.92₱118
39.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Toledo City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.49
$0.26₱15.80
442.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿394
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$0.73₱44.82
326.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.08
$0.23₱14.04
352.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿475
$2.68₱165
426.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.13
$1.14₱70.1
14.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿936.0K
$23.8K₱1.5M
16.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$19.4K₱1.2M
71.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Toledo City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,120
$67.2₱4,134
82.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$30.92₱1,903
-56.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$30.16₱1,857
-38.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Toledo City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,035
$33.48₱2,061
80.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿572
$4.34₱267
291.24%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$1.80₱111
403.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Toledo City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$89.8₱5,531
686.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.8K
$4,365₱268.7K
262.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Toledo City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,970
$45.99₱2,831
27.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,190
$22.57₱1,390
56.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,885
$63.2₱3,888
82.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,818
$80.3₱4,942
4.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Toledo City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.1K
$413₱25.4K
51.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$175₱10.8K
154.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.7K
$582₱35.8K
250.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$394₱24.2K
278.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.2K
$2,400₱147.8K
45.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$986₱60.7K
161.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Toledo City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$318₱19.6K
56.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6
-11.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Toledo City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $413 in Toledo City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 57% 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 $21.00 in Toledo City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $182 per month, with Toledo City 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 Toledo City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toledo City cheaper than Phuket?
Toledo City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Toledo City?
Average pay runs 57% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Toledo City?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $413 in Toledo City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $89.8 in Toledo City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Toledo City?
Dining out is cheaper in Toledo City – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Toledo City?
At $692 in Toledo City versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Toledo City but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Toledo City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Toledo City more family-friendly?
For families, Toledo City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Toledo City?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Toledo City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Toledo City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.