Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Boquete and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,459 in Boquete versus $1,253 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,218 in Boquete versus $2,043 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,978 in Boquete versus $2,833 in Phuket.

Living in Boquete is roughly 16% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Boquete is 6% above, Phuket is 9% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 PAB 6.56

$4.56 ฿150

43.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.60 PAB 40.60

$32.62 ฿1,073

24.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.62 PAB 7.62

$8.90 ฿293

-14.38%

Cappuccino

$3.80 PAB 3.80

$2.80 ฿92.2

35.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 PAB 1.35

$0.88 ฿28.94

53.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

$0.49 ฿16.08

146.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 PAB 2.30

$2.39 ฿78.5

-3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.11 PAB 5.11

$3.71 ฿122

37.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 PAB 1.83

$1.79 ฿58.8

2.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.13 PAB 2.13

$1.44 ฿47.40

47.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$1.58 ฿52.1

39.87%

Eggs

$2.56 PAB 2.56

$2.13 ฿69.9

20.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.32 PAB 9.32

$19.92 ฿655

-53.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.41 PAB 7.41

$3.43 ฿113

116.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.55 PAB 15.55

$11.33 ฿372

37.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 PAB 4.36

$2.95 ฿97.0

47.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 PAB 1.02

$1.72 ฿56.6

-40.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 PAB 4.28

$2.32 ฿76.5

84.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 PAB 2.24

$2.08 ฿68.4

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.24 PAB 2.24

$1.47 ฿48.34

52.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 PAB 2.21

$1.36 ฿44.65

62.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 PAB 2.19

$1.10 ฿36.13

99.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 PAB 1.69

$0.57 ฿18.89

196.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.14 PAB 5.14

$4.27 ฿140

20.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.84 PAB 7.84

$18.42 ฿606

-57.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 PAB 1.21

$1.87 ฿61.5

-35.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 PAB 2.65

$2.92 ฿96.1

-9.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.34 PAB 1.34

$2.22 ฿73.0

-39.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.16 PAB 25.16

$22.90 ฿753

9.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 PAB 0.98

$3.03 ฿99.6

-67.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 PAB 1.98

$1.07 ฿35.32

85.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.10 PAB 30.10

$3.93 ฿129

665.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 PAB 1.08

$1.49 ฿49.06

-27.52%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.1K PAB 25.1K

$27.1K ฿892.0K

-7.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.1K PAB 22.1K

$27.5K ฿902.6K

-19.35%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$58.5 PAB 58.5

$103 ฿3,380

-43.11%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$25.76 PAB 25.76

$10.99 ฿361

134.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.20 PAB 42.20

$17.51 ฿576

141.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.5 PAB 83.5

$53.5 ฿1,760

56.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.19 PAB 17.19

$11.20 ฿368

53.48%

Cinema Ticket

$6.32 PAB 6.32

$7.48 ฿246

-15.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$557 ฿18.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 PAB 5,965

$11.9K ฿389.7K

-49.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.99 PAB 24.99

$64.1 ฿2,107

-61.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.54 PAB 24.54

$29.07 ฿956

-15.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.19 PAB 44.19

$96.0 ฿3,155

-53.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 PAB 827

$730 ฿24.0K

13.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$700 PAB 700

$500 ฿16.4K

39.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,559 PAB 1,559

$2,090 ฿68.7K

-25.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 PAB 1,295

$1,209 ฿39.8K

7.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,203 PAB 1,203

$3,596 ฿118.2K

-66.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,149 PAB 1,149

$2,512 ฿82.6K

-54.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$814 PAB 814

$503 ฿16.6K

61.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

5.57

16.70%

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

Last update for Boquete: August 29, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $827 in Boquete and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boquete pays 62% 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: $41.00 in Boquete vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 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

Boquete vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 62% higher in Boquete, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $827 in Boquete versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Boquete. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,459 per month in Boquete versus $1,253 in Phuket – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,459 in Boquete, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Boquete. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boquete, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Boquete 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.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.