🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $788 in Talisay City versus $1,265 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,204 in Talisay City versus $2,297 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,620 in Talisay City versus $3,329 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Talisay City costs roughly 38% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Talisay City41% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Talisay City
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48₱214
$4.70฿153
-25.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.85₱1,101
$45.37฿1,482
-60.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.30₱203
$8.43฿275
-60.85%
Cappuccino
$2.38₱147
$2.93฿95.6
-18.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83₱50.9
$0.69฿22.40
20.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37₱22.67
$0.37฿11.99
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.35₱83.3
$2.41฿78.6
-43.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18₱134
$3.72฿122
-41.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Talisay City
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82₱112
$2.23฿72.9
-18.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21₱74.9
$1.83฿59.8
-33.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱62.4
$2.17฿70.8
-53.46%
Eggs
$2.05₱127
$2.21฿72.3
-7.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.89₱486
$19.74฿645
-60.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.36₱269
$3.63฿119
20.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.79₱481
$13.53฿442
-42.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87₱177
$3.28฿107
-12.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53₱94.3
$1.61฿52.6
-4.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60₱160
$2.41฿78.6
7.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61₱99.1
$2.08฿68.1
-22.60%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21₱136
$1.53฿49.93
44.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.53₱156
$1.48฿48.36
70.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07₱66.0
$0.99฿32.29
8.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77₱47.75
$0.51฿16.67
50.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78₱172
$4.41฿144
-36.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.28₱449
$19.38฿633
-62.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15₱71.0
$1.78฿58.1
-35.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99₱123
$2.71฿88.6
-26.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Talisay City
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₱15.86
$1.37฿44.79
-81.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.39฿372
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.82₱50.3
$3.02฿98.6
-72.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.24₱14.86
$0.99฿32.48
-75.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.16₱133
$14.10฿461
-84.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15₱71.1
$1.36฿44.51
-15.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K₱1.6M
$28.2K฿921.1K
-6.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K₱1.3M
$32.9K฿1.1M
-37.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Talisay City
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$111₱6,870
$122฿3,975
-8.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.62₱2,011
$13.57฿443
140.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.26₱1,681
$18.31฿598
48.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Talisay City
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.66₱2,076
$60.2฿1,967
-44.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.30₱265
$17.14฿560
-74.91%
Cinema Ticket
$5.83₱360
$8.69฿284
-32.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Talisay City
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$150₱9,236
$693฿22.6K
-78.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,313₱265.9K
$15.7K฿512.3K
-72.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Talisay City
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.54₱2,870
$59.5฿1,944
-21.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.64₱1,643
$34.77฿1,136
-23.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.2₱4,638
$115฿3,743
-34.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.8₱3,320
$83.3฿2,720
-35.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Talisay City
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$269₱16.6K
$613฿20.0K
-56.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176₱10.9K
$437฿14.3K
-59.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584₱36.0K
$2,094฿68.4K
-72.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397₱24.5K
$1,509฿49.3K
-73.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,307₱142.3K
$3,749฿122.5K
-38.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$942₱58.1K
$2,616฿85.4K
-64.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Talisay City
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$335₱20.6K
$508฿16.6K
-34.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
5.33
25.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Talisay City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Talisay City and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 52% 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: $18.00 in Talisay City vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $293 per month, with Talisay 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
Talisay City vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Talisay City?
Talisay City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Talisay City or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 52% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Talisay City and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $269 in Talisay City versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $150 in Talisay City versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Talisay City or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Talisay City – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Talisay City or Phuket?
At $788 in Talisay City versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Talisay City but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Talisay City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Talisay City or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Talisay 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, Talisay City or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Talisay City and Phuket 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 Talisay City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Talisay City vs other spots: cost of living compared