Cost of Living Comparison Between Barquisimeto and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Barquisimeto and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $557 in Barquisimeto versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $939 in Barquisimeto versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,322 in Barquisimeto versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Barquisimeto costs roughly 56% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Barquisimeto 58% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.40 VES 4,124
$4.70 ฿153
57.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.54 VES 17.0K
$45.37 ฿1,482
-32.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.15 VES 5,655
$8.43 ฿275
20.40%
Cappuccino
$1.01 VES 565
$2.93 ฿95.6
-65.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 VES 658
$0.69 ฿22.40
71.01%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 VES 397
$0.37 ฿11.99
91.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.47 VES 821
$2.41 ฿78.6
-39.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 VES 856
$3.72 ฿122
-58.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 VES 850
$2.23 ฿72.9
-31.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.48 VES 1,383
$1.83 ฿59.8
35.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 VES 550
$2.17 ฿70.8
-54.38%
Eggs
$1.62 VES 902
$2.21 ฿72.3
-26.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.10 VES 2,284
$19.74 ฿645
-79.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.05 VES 2,817
$3.63 ฿119
39.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.05 VES 3,926
$13.53 ฿442
-47.89%
Apples (1kg)
$4.91 VES 2,734
$3.28 ฿107
49.70%
Banana (1kg)
$0.98 VES 547
$1.61 ฿52.6
-39.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 VES 548
$2.41 ฿78.6
-59.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 VES 544
$2.08 ฿68.1
-52.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 VES 550
$1.53 ฿49.93
-35.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 VES 819
$1.48 ฿48.36
-0.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 VES 288
$0.99 ฿32.29
-47.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 VES 566
$0.51 ฿16.67
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 VES 1,713
$4.41 ฿144
-30.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.37 VES 7,453
$19.38 ฿633
-31.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 VES 434
$1.78 ฿58.1
-56.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 VES 567
$2.71 ฿88.6
-62.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 VES 245
$1.37 ฿44.79
-67.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.39 ฿372
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.11 VES 2,847
$3.02 ฿98.6
69.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.99 ฿32.48
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$14.10 ฿461
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.51 VES 286
$1.36 ฿44.51
-62.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K VES 13.8M
$28.2K ฿921.1K
-12.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K VES 20.3M
$32.9K ฿1.1M
10.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$20.08 VES 11.2K
$122 ฿3,975
-83.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.08 VES 5,618
$13.57 ฿443
-25.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.41 VES 22.5K
$18.31 ฿598
120.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.57 VES 12.6K
$60.2 ฿1,967
-62.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.14 ฿560
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.49 VES 2,501
$8.69 ฿284
-48.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$50.1 VES 27.9K
$693 ฿22.6K
-92.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.93 VES 15.6K
$59.5 ฿1,944
-53.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.91 VES 13.9K
$34.77 ฿1,136
-28.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.3 VES 28.0K
$115 ฿3,743
-56.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.45 VES 27.6K
$83.3 ฿2,720
-40.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$199 VES 110.9K
$613 ฿20.0K
-67.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$50.7 VES 28.2K
$437 ฿14.3K
-88.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$246 VES 136.9K
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-88.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$149 VES 82.9K
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-90.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$469 VES 261.3K
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-87.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$248 VES 138.4K
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-90.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$190 VES 105.9K
$508 ฿16.6K
-62.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.33
-

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

Last update for Barquisimeto: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Barquisimeto and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 167% 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: $31.00 in Barquisimeto vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $293 per month, with Barquisimeto 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 Phuket?
Barquisimeto and Phuket differ by about 127% in total monthly costs ($557 vs $1,265 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, Phuket earns 167% less. 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 Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $199 in Barquisimeto versus $613 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 46% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Barquisimeto or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $557 per month in Barquisimeto versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 127% 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 $557 in Barquisimeto versus $1,265 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 127% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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