😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,597 in Alcala de Guadaira versus $1,261 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,369 in Alcala de Guadaira versus $2,078 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,140 in Alcala de Guadaira versus $2,896 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Alcala de Guadaira is roughly 27% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Alcala de Guadaira is 17% above, Phuket is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alcala de Guadaira
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.59€11.62
$4.43฿145
206.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.8€48.59
$35.07฿1,151
61.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.51€8.13
$8.96฿294
6.14%
Cappuccino
$1.92€1.64
$3.00฿98.4
-36.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.82
$0.77฿25.33
176.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.37
$0.47฿15.44
240.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.84€2.43
$2.40฿78.6
18.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47€2.97
$3.75฿123
-7.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alcala de Guadaira
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14€0.97
$1.82฿59.8
-37.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72€1.47
$1.42฿46.65
21.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47€1.26
$1.55฿50.8
-5.16%
Eggs
$3.42€2.93
$2.13฿69.9
60.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.73€11.75
$19.76฿648
-30.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.56€7.32
$3.48฿114
145.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.83€14.39
$11.09฿364
51.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41€2.06
$2.91฿95.5
-17.18%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06€1.77
$1.66฿54.6
24.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86€1.59
$2.27฿74.5
-18.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50€2.14
$2.10฿68.8
19.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81€1.55
$1.47฿48.24
23.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18€1.86
$1.41฿46.29
54.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.28
$1.09฿35.78
36.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69€0.59
$0.54฿17.58
27.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.90€5.90
$4.48฿147
54.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.09€5.21
$18.72฿614
-67.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18€1.01
$1.84฿60.4
-35.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93€1.65
$2.95฿96.7
-34.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Alcala de Guadaira
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63€1.39
$2.26฿74.1
-27.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.26€30.16
$23.07฿757
52.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.73€1.48
$3.04฿99.9
-43.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08€0.93
$1.09฿35.82
-0.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.61€11.64
$3.82฿125
256.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.68€1.44
$1.49฿48.79
12.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7K€31.4K
$27.4K฿900.3K
33.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K€25.4K
$27.5K฿902.7K
8.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alcala de Guadaira
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124€106
$102฿3,340
21.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.79€14.36
$11.28฿370
48.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.82€24.65
$17.75฿582
62.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alcala de Guadaira
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.06€39.40
$54.2฿1,777
-14.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.40€14.03
$10.96฿360
49.64%
Cinema Ticket
$8.37€7.16
$7.85฿258
6.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alcala de Guadaira
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$572€489
$577฿18.9K
-0.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,126€6,951
$11.6K฿381.6K
-30.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alcala de Guadaira
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.5€78.3
$65.4฿2,144
40.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.61€34.74
$28.89฿948
40.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5€85.1
$99.1฿3,250
0.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119€102
$90.3฿2,961
31.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alcala de Guadaira
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$939€803
$756฿24.8K
24.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$706€604
$487฿16.0K
44.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,398€1,196
$2,085฿68.4K
-32.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,035€885
$1,207฿39.6K
-14.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,473€2,971
$3,591฿117.8K
-3.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,211€1,892
$2,610฿85.6K
-15.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alcala de Guadaira
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$502฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.34
5.57
-40.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Alcala de Guadaira: August 17, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $939 in Alcala de Guadaira and $756 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $57.0 in Alcala de Guadaira vs $35.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $272 per month, with Phuket 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
Alcala de Guadaira vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Alcala de Guadaira and in Phuket?
Alcala de Guadaira and Phuket differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($1,597 vs $1,261 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Alcala de Guadaira compared to Phuket?
You'd need roughly $2,396 in Alcala de Guadaira and $1,891 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Alcala de Guadaira and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $939 in Alcala de Guadaira versus $756 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Alcala de Guadaira. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $57.0 in Alcala de Guadaira. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,597 in Alcala de Guadaira, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Alcala de Guadaira. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Alcala de Guadaira and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Alcala de Guadaira or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Alcala de Guadaira 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.
Where should expats move: Alcala de Guadaira or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Alcala de Guadaira. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Alcala de Guadaira vs other spots: cost of living compared