πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $110 in Ayacucho versus $1,265 in Phuket.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $191 in Ayacucho versus $2,297 in Phuket.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $272 in Ayacucho versus $3,329 in Phuket.
πLiving in Ayacucho costs roughly 91% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Ayacucho92% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Ayacucho
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.64PENΒ 5.57
$4.70ΰΈΏ153
-65.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.75PENΒ 46.77
$45.37ΰΈΏ1,482
-69.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.07PENΒ 13.84
$8.43ΰΈΏ275
-51.72%
Cappuccino
$2.25PENΒ 7.66
$2.93ΰΈΏ95.6
-23.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80PENΒ 2.71
$0.69ΰΈΏ22.40
15.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29PENΒ 1.00
$0.37ΰΈΏ11.99
-21.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.89PENΒ 6.42
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
-21.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25PENΒ 7.66
$3.72ΰΈΏ122
-39.52%
π Groceries & Markets
Ayacucho
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$2.23ΰΈΏ72.9
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.83ΰΈΏ59.8
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$2.17ΰΈΏ70.8
-
Eggs
-
$2.21ΰΈΏ72.3
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$19.74ΰΈΏ645
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.63ΰΈΏ119
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.53ΰΈΏ442
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.28ΰΈΏ107
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.61ΰΈΏ52.6
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.41ΰΈΏ78.6
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.08ΰΈΏ68.1
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.53ΰΈΏ49.93
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.48ΰΈΏ48.36
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.29
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.51ΰΈΏ16.67
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.41ΰΈΏ144
-
Wine(Bottle)
$5.80PENΒ 19.73
$19.38ΰΈΏ633
-70.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78ΰΈΏ58.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.71ΰΈΏ88.6
-
π Getting Around
Ayacucho
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.37ΰΈΏ44.79
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.39ΰΈΏ372
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.02ΰΈΏ98.6
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.48
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$14.10ΰΈΏ461
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.36ΰΈΏ44.51
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$28.2KΰΈΏ921.1K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.9KΰΈΏ1.1M
-
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ayacucho
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$122ΰΈΏ3,975
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.57ΰΈΏ443
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$18.31ΰΈΏ598
-
π Sport & Entertainment
Ayacucho
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.55PENΒ 83.5
$60.2ΰΈΏ1,967
-59.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14ΰΈΏ560
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$8.69ΰΈΏ284
-
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Ayacucho
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$693ΰΈΏ22.6K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.7KΰΈΏ512.3K
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Ayacucho
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$59.5ΰΈΏ1,944
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$34.77ΰΈΏ1,136
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$115ΰΈΏ3,743
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$83.3ΰΈΏ2,720
-
π Accommodation & Living
Ayacucho
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$613ΰΈΏ20.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$437ΰΈΏ14.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,094ΰΈΏ68.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,509ΰΈΏ49.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,944PENΒ 6,615
$3,749ΰΈΏ122.5K
-48.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,747PENΒ 5,942
$2,616ΰΈΏ85.4K
-33.23%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Ayacucho
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$492PENΒ 1,675
$508ΰΈΏ16.6K
-3.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ayacucho: June 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π°Phuket pays 3% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $14.00 in Ayacucho vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $12.00 vs $293 per month, with Ayacucho 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
Ayacucho vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ayacucho or Phuket?
Ayacucho wins on cost β living expenses run 1055% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ayacucho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ayacucho or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 3% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does it cost to live in Ayacucho compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $110 per month in Ayacucho versus $1,265 in Phuket β a 1055% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Ayacucho or Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2425% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ayacucho or Phuket?
At $110 in Ayacucho versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ayacucho but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ayacucho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ayacucho or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ayacucho delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $110 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ayacucho hard to pass up.
How safe is Ayacucho compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Ayacucho 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ayacucho gentler on the wallet β expenses run 1055% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.