🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $538 in Barquisimeto versus $1,250 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $918 in Barquisimeto versus $2,284 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,298 in Barquisimeto versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Barquisimeto costs roughly 57% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Barquisimeto60% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.32VES 5,384
$4.55฿153
60.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.12VES 22.1K
$46.18฿1,554
-34.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.96VES 7,319
$8.84฿298
12.67%
Cappuccino
$0.97VES 715
$3.06฿103
-68.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20VES 884
$0.73฿24.42
64.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73VES 540
$0.40฿13.40
82.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.48VES 1,085
$2.43฿81.8
-39.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54VES 1,135
$3.78฿127
-59.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52VES 1,117
$2.26฿76.0
-32.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.53VES 1,859
$1.81฿60.9
39.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02VES 747
$2.25฿75.8
-54.67%
Eggs
$1.64VES 1,207
$2.25฿75.6
-27.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.06VES 2,983
$19.51฿656
-79.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.03VES 3,698
$3.65฿123
37.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.95VES 5,109
$13.05฿439
-46.74%
Apples(1kg)
$4.89VES 3,598
$3.23฿109
51.39%
Banana(1kg)
$0.98VES 723
$1.62฿54.4
-39.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01VES 744
$2.38฿80.2
-57.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03VES 756
$2.03฿68.2
-49.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99VES 727
$1.53฿51.6
-35.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51VES 1,112
$1.50฿50.5
0.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52VES 384
$0.98฿32.93
-46.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02VES 748
$0.52฿17.40
96.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93VES 2,156
$4.44฿149
-34.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.34VES 9,807
$18.32฿616
-27.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79VES 583
$1.86฿62.7
-57.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98VES 718
$2.68฿90.2
-63.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44VES 323
$1.41฿47.49
-68.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.70฿394
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.88VES 3,584
$3.11฿105
56.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.04฿35.08
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$14.11฿475
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49VES 359
$1.31฿44.13
-62.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KVES 18.0M
$27.8K฿936.0K
-11.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KVES 26.3M
$33.2K฿1.1M
7.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$19.97VES 14.7K
$122฿4,120
-83.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.07VES 7,399
$13.59฿457
-25.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.16VES 29.5K
$18.70฿629
114.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.92VES 16.9K
$60.5฿2,035
-62.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.98฿572
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.48VES 3,294
$9.07฿305
-50.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$50.2VES 36.9K
$706฿23.8K
-92.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.8K฿531.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.49VES 20.2K
$58.6฿1,970
-53.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.55VES 18.0K
$35.36฿1,190
-30.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.8VES 37.4K
$115฿3,885
-55.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.06VES 36.1K
$83.7฿2,818
-41.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$202VES 148.7K
$626฿21.1K
-67.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$49.50VES 36.4K
$445฿15.0K
-88.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$253VES 185.9K
$2,040฿68.7K
-87.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$151VES 110.7K
$1,492฿50.2K
-89.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$473VES 348.0K
$3,483฿117.2K
-86.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$245VES 180.3K
$2,577฿86.7K
-90.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barquisimeto
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$188VES 138.4K
$500฿16.8K
-62.34%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $202 in Barquisimeto and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 166% 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: $30.00 in Barquisimeto vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $289 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 in Phuket?
Barquisimeto and Phuket differ by about 132% in total monthly costs ($538 vs $1,250 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 166% 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: $202 in Barquisimeto versus $626 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 43% 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 $538 per month in Barquisimeto versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 132% 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 $538 in Barquisimeto versus $1,250 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 132% 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