Cost of Living Comparison Between Barakaldo and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Barakaldo and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,673 in Barakaldo versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,479 in Barakaldo versus $2,054 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,286 in Barakaldo versus $2,876 in Phuket.

Living in Barakaldo is roughly 36% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Barakaldo is 22% above, Phuket is 10% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barakaldo
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.23 €15.02
$4.41 ฿147
290.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.9 €61.8
$32.26 ฿1,077
119.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.64 €11.02
$8.93 ฿298
41.55%
Cappuccino
$2.66 €2.32
$2.90 ฿96.6
-8.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 €2.73
$0.88 ฿29.38
255.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.84
$0.48 ฿16.06
339.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.10
$2.35 ฿78.5
51.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 €2.92
$3.72 ฿124
-9.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barakaldo
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 €1.04
$1.87 ฿62.3
-35.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.66 €1.44
$1.47 ฿48.94
12.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 €1.22
$1.55 ฿51.8
-9.68%
Eggs
$3.41 €2.97
$2.10 ฿70.1
62.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.43 €10.83
$19.59 ฿654
-36.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.32 €7.25
$3.42 ฿114
143.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.97 €12.18
$11.38 ฿380
22.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.79 €2.43
$2.98 ฿99.6
-6.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 €1.48
$1.68 ฿56.2
0.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.21 ฿73.7
-3.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.49 €2.17
$2.16 ฿72.1
15.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 €1.34
$1.52 ฿50.9
0.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 €2.15
$1.34 ฿44.67
83.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 €1.12
$1.13 ฿37.67
14.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 €0.60
$0.55 ฿18.24
25.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.85 €5.97
$4.26 ฿142
60.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.22 €7.17
$19.09 ฿637
-56.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 €1.24
$1.78 ฿59.4
-19.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 €1.84
$2.78 ฿92.9
-24.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Barakaldo
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 €1.44
$2.23 ฿74.4
-26.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.41 €30.00
$22.74 ฿759
51.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.62 €4.90
$3.03 ฿101
85.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 €0.90
$1.02 ฿34.15
1.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$32.90 €28.68
$3.89 ฿130
745.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.73 €1.51
$1.49 ฿49.77
16.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K €31.9K
$26.6K ฿887.3K
37.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.1K €26.3K
$27.0K ฿902.2K
11.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barakaldo
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €129
$102 ฿3,420
44.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.19 €16.73
$11.33 ฿378
69.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.53 €23.13
$17.40 ฿581
52.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barakaldo
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.33 €40.38
$52.1 ฿1,738
-11.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.70 €14.56
$11.07 ฿370
50.86%
Cinema Ticket
$10.30 €8.98
$7.69 ฿257
33.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barakaldo
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$503 €439
$561 ฿18.7K
-10.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K €9,415
$11.5K ฿384.1K
-6.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barakaldo
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.5 €81.5
$63.0 ฿2,104
48.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 €29.19
$29.52 ฿986
13.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.9 €64.4
$98.0 ฿3,272
-24.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 €109
$88.5 ฿2,954
41.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barakaldo
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$933 €813
$738 ฿24.6K
26.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$695 €606
$482 ฿16.1K
44.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,417 €1,236
$2,107 ฿70.3K
-32.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,041 €908
$1,226 ฿40.9K
-15.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,404 €2,967
$3,617 ฿120.7K
-5.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,281 €1,988
$2,603 ฿86.9K
-12.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barakaldo
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,806 €1,574
$494 ฿16.5K
265.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.98
5.57
-46.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Barakaldo: September 15, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $933 in Barakaldo and $738 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barakaldo pays 266% 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: $71.0 in Barakaldo vs $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $274, with Barakaldo cheaper for home cooking.

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
Barakaldo vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barakaldo and in Phuket?
Barakaldo and Phuket differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($1,673 vs $1,232 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barakaldo or Phuket?
Average pay runs 266% higher in Barakaldo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barakaldo and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $933 in Barakaldo versus $738 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $71.0 in Barakaldo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Barakaldo or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,673 per month in Barakaldo versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,673 in Barakaldo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Barakaldo. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barakaldo 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 Barakaldo or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barakaldo 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: Barakaldo or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Barakaldo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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