🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $861 in Barquisimeto versus $1,253 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,472 in Barquisimeto versus $2,043 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,083 in Barquisimeto versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Barquisimeto costs roughly 31% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Barquisimeto37% lower, Phuket9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.95VES 8,078
$4.56฿150
118.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.50VES 40.2K
$32.62฿1,073
51.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.52VES 9,350
$8.90฿293
29.44%
Cappuccino
$1.72VES 1,393
$2.80฿92.3
-38.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52VES 1,236
$0.88฿28.96
72.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15VES 932
$0.49฿16.09
134.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.28VES 1,038
$2.39฿78.6
-46.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36VES 2,724
$3.71฿122
-9.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.98VES 2,420
$1.79฿58.8
66.48%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37VES 1,921
$1.44฿47.43
64.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14VES 1,734
$1.58฿52.1
35.44%
Eggs
$3.27VES 2,657
$2.13฿70.0
53.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.85VES 6,375
$19.92฿655
-60.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.03VES 7,331
$3.43฿113
163.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.65VES 8,647
$11.33฿373
-6.00%
Apples(1kg)
$4.59VES 3,730
$2.95฿97.0
55.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.02VES 1,637
$1.72฿56.6
17.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.74VES 597
$2.32฿76.5
-68.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.92VES 746
$2.08฿68.5
-55.77%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95VES 775
$1.47฿48.37
-35.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35VES 1,095
$1.36฿44.68
-0.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65VES 529
$1.10฿36.15
-40.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61VES 1,309
$0.57฿18.90
182.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92VES 2,368
$4.27฿140
-31.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.82VES 9,590
$18.42฿606
-35.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25VES 1,018
$1.87฿61.6
-33.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81VES 2,284
$2.92฿96.1
-3.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.40VES 324
$2.22฿73.0
-81.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.68VES 32.2K
$22.90฿753
73.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.96VES 4,026
$3.03฿99.7
63.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.54VES 2,063
$1.07฿35.34
137.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.22VES 12.4K
$3.93฿129
287.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75VES 611
$1.49฿49.09
-49.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KVES 20.4M
$27.1K฿892.5K
-7.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.3KVES 25.4M
$27.5K฿903.2K
14.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$15.36VES 12.5K
$103฿3,382
-85.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.87VES 6,386
$10.99฿362
-28.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.72VES 29.8K
$17.51฿576
109.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.48VES 27.2K
$53.5฿1,761
-37.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.72VES 7,081
$11.20฿368
-22.14%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05VES 4,100
$7.48฿246
-32.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$56.4VES 45.8K
$557฿18.3K
-89.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$494VES 401.1K
$11.9K฿390.0K
-95.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.83VES 38.0K
$64.1฿2,108
-26.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.74VES 32.3K
$29.07฿957
36.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103VES 83.5K
$96.0฿3,157
7.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.5VES 66.1K
$90.3฿2,972
-9.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$213VES 173.2K
$730฿24.0K
-70.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$142VES 115.3K
$500฿16.4K
-71.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$464VES 376.7K
$2,090฿68.8K
-77.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$322VES 261.2K
$1,209฿39.8K
-73.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$474VES 384.4K
$3,596฿118.3K
-86.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$253VES 205.4K
$2,512฿82.7K
-89.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$185VES 150.6K
$503฿16.6K
-63.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25
5.57
348.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barquisimeto: September 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $213 in Barquisimeto and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 171% 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: $49.00 in Barquisimeto vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $281 vs $273 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
Barquisimeto vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barquisimeto and in Phuket?
Barquisimeto and Phuket differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($861 vs $1,253 including rent). Barquisimeto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 171% lower in Phuket. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Barquisimeto and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $213 in Barquisimeto versus $730 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 Barquisimeto – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $33.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Barquisimeto or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $861 per month in Barquisimeto versus $1,253 in Phuket – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $861 in Barquisimeto versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Barquisimeto but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Barquisimeto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barquisimeto 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 Barquisimeto or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barquisimeto 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: Barquisimeto or Phuket?
Expats usually find Barquisimeto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Barquisimeto vs other spots: cost of living compared