Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Alcala la Real and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $1,579 in Alcala la Real, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Alcala la Real
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,579
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Alcala la Real and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Alcala la Real and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,579 in Alcala la Real versus $1,207 in Phuket.

  • Alcala la Real $1,579
  • Phuket $1,207

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,353 in Alcala la Real versus $2,037 in Phuket.

  • Alcala la Real $2,353
  • Phuket $2,037

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,128 in Alcala la Real versus $2,867 in Phuket.

  • Alcala la Real $3,128
  • Phuket $2,867

Living in Alcala la Real is roughly 31% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Alcala la Real is 17% above, Phuket is 11% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Alcala la Real
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.37 €11.89
$4.58 ฿153
191.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1 €60.6
$32.48 ฿1,086
109.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.00 €8.00
$8.55 ฿286
5.26%
Cappuccino
$1.84 €1.64
$2.72 ฿91.0
-32.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 €1.89
$0.94 ฿31.25
125.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 €1.43
$0.49 ฿16.39
228.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 €2.64
$2.59 ฿86.6
14.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 €3.08
$3.83 ฿128
-9.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Alcala la Real
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €1.01
$1.74 ฿58.1
-34.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 €1.50
$1.43 ฿47.82
17.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 €1.40
$1.53 ฿51.0
2.61%
Eggs
$3.21 €2.86
$2.17 ฿72.7
47.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.48 €11.99
$19.15 ฿640
-29.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 €7.38
$3.30 ฿110
151.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.95 €14.19
$11.14 ฿372
43.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 €2.11
$2.95 ฿98.5
-19.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 €1.76
$1.68 ฿56.1
17.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 €1.67
$2.30 ฿76.8
-18.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.61 €2.32
$2.13 ฿71.3
22.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 €1.64
$1.53 ฿51.1
20.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 €1.85
$1.36 ฿45.55
52.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 €1.29
$1.12 ฿37.44
29.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 €0.67
$0.55 ฿18.24
36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68 €5.94
$4.26 ฿142
56.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.94 €5.29
$18.19 ฿608
-67.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 €1.04
$1.74 ฿58.2
-32.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 €1.75
$2.79 ฿93.3
-29.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Alcala la Real
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 €1.47
$2.22 ฿74.1
-25.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.65 €29.04
$22.06 ฿737
48.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.66 €1.48
$2.91 ฿97.3
-42.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 €0.94
$1.01 ฿33.79
4.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.75 €13.12
$3.83 ฿128
285.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.82 €1.62
$1.49 ฿49.85
22.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K €31.7K
$26.7K ฿891.6K
33.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K €25.5K
$26.7K ฿892.7K
7.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alcala la Real
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 €105
$99.4 ฿3,321
18.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.13 €14.35
$11.28 ฿377
43.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.94 €29.29
$17.36 ฿580
89.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Alcala la Real
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.43 €39.51
$52.3 ฿1,747
-15.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.82 €14.07
$10.85 ฿362
45.81%
Cinema Ticket
$8.02 €7.14
$7.57 ฿253
5.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Alcala la Real
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$552 €491
$558 ฿18.7K
-1.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,151 €7,250
$11.5K ฿383.9K
-29.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Alcala la Real
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.9 €80.0
$62.9 ฿2,102
43.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.88 €34.58
$28.58 ฿955
36.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.9 €86.1
$96.1 ฿3,213
0.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 €99.7
$88.1 ฿2,943
27.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Alcala la Real
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 €793
$729 ฿24.4K
22.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$693 €616
$460 ฿15.4K
50.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,345 €1,196
$2,096 ฿70.0K
-35.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 €896
$1,222 ฿40.8K
-17.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,283 €2,920
$3,459 ฿115.6K
-5.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,174 €1,934
$2,489 ฿83.2K
-12.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Alcala la Real
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$493 ฿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 la Real: October 11, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Alcala la Real
$693
Phuket
$460 33.6% $233
Groceries & Markets
Alcala la Real
$268
Phuket
$268 0% $0.1
Eating Out
Alcala la Real
$193
Phuket
$121 37.1% $71
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Alcala la Real
$167
Phuket
$128 23.4% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Alcala la Real
$152
Phuket
$124 18.4% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Alcala la Real
$60
Phuket
$67 11.5% $7
Getting Around
Alcala la Real
$46
Phuket
$39 15.8% $7.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $891 in Alcala la Real and $729 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $68.0 in Alcala la Real vs $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $268, with Alcala la Real cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Alcala la Real
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
19:35 7:35 PM
00:35 12:35 AM
5 h ahead of Alcala la Real
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,587
79,308
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Alcala la Real Phuket 10,540 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Alcala la Real
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 la Real vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Alcala la Real and in Phuket?
Alcala la Real and Phuket differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($1,579 vs $1,207 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 la Real compared to Phuket?
You'd need roughly $2,368 in Alcala la Real and $1,811 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 la Real and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $891 in Alcala la Real versus $729 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Alcala la Real and in Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 48% less than in Alcala la Real. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Alcala la Real and Phuket?
Childcare runs $552 in Alcala la Real versus $558 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,207 in Phuket versus $1,579 in Alcala la Real, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Alcala la Real. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Alcala la Real 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 la Real or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Alcala la Real 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 la Real or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Alcala la Real. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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