Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Caguas and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $1,621 in Caguas, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Caguas
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico
$1,621
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Caguas and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Caguas and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,621 per month in Caguas vs $1,207 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Caguas $1,621
  • Phuket $1,207

A couple spends around $2,580 per month in Caguas vs $2,037 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Caguas $2,580
  • Phuket $2,037

A family of three spends $3,539 per month in Caguas vs $2,867 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Caguas $3,539
  • Phuket $2,867

Caguas costs about 34% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Caguas sits 20% above the global median, while Phuket is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Caguas
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.74 $14.74
$4.58 ฿153
221.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.9 $82.9
$32.48 ฿1,086
155.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.99 $8.99
$8.55 ฿286
5.15%
Cappuccino
$2.28 $2.28
$2.72 ฿91.0
-16.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 $1.12
$0.94 ฿31.25
19.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 $1.24
$0.49 ฿16.39
153.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 $1.52
$2.59 ฿86.6
-41.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12 $4.12
$3.83 ฿128
7.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caguas
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.74 ฿58.1
24.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.80 $2.80
$1.43 ฿47.82
95.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 $2.31
$1.53 ฿51.0
50.98%
Eggs
$4.97 $4.97
$2.17 ฿72.7
129.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.90 $6.90
$19.15 ฿640
-63.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.13 $9.13
$3.30 ฿110
176.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.99 $11.99
$11.14 ฿372
7.63%
Apples (1kg)
$5.15 $5.15
$2.95 ฿98.5
74.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.68 ฿56.1
55.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 $2.39
$2.30 ฿76.8
3.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.53 $4.53
$2.13 ฿71.3
112.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.53 ฿51.1
67.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.71 $2.71
$1.36 ฿45.55
99.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.12 ฿37.44
101.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 $1.60
$0.55 ฿18.24
190.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.64 $10.64
$4.26 ฿142
149.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.03 $14.03
$18.19 ฿608
-22.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.74 ฿58.2
-16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$2.79 ฿93.3
-21.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Caguas
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$2.22 ฿74.1
-10.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$70.3 $70.3
$22.06 ฿737
218.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.91 ฿97.3
-16.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.01 ฿33.79
52.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.73 $42.73
$3.83 ฿128
1015.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.49 ฿49.85
-40.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$26.7K ฿891.6K
14.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$26.7K ฿892.7K
-3.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caguas
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$185 $185
$99.4 ฿3,321
86.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.9 $59.9
$11.28 ฿377
430.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.2 $56.2
$17.36 ฿580
223.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caguas
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.28 $35.28
$52.3 ฿1,747
-32.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.9 $50.9
$10.85 ฿362
369.12%
Cinema Ticket
$9.83 $9.83
$7.57 ฿253
29.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caguas
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$300 $300
$558 ฿18.7K
-46.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K $12.3K
$11.5K ฿383.9K
6.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caguas
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.14 $26.14
$62.9 ฿2,102
-58.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.43 $35.43
$28.58 ฿955
23.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.1 $81.1
$96.1 ฿3,213
-15.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$88.1 ฿2,943
30.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caguas
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$752 $752
$729 ฿24.4K
3.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$528 $528
$460 ฿15.4K
14.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,080 $1,080
$2,096 ฿70.0K
-48.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$977 $977
$1,222 ฿40.8K
-20.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,422 $2,422
$3,459 ฿115.6K
-29.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$849 $849
$2,489 ฿83.2K
-65.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caguas
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,041 $3,041
$493 ฿16.5K
516.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.85
5.57
-12.93%

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

Last update for Caguas: October 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Caguas
$528
Phuket
$460 12.8% $68
Groceries & Markets
Caguas
$336
Phuket
$268 20.3% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caguas
$301
Phuket
$128 57.5% $173
Eating Out
Caguas
$198
Phuket
$121 38.6% $76
Clothing & Footwear
Caguas
$116
Phuket
$124 7% $8.1
Getting Around
Caguas
$88
Phuket
$39 56% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Caguas
$55
Phuket
$67 22.7% $12

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $752 in Caguas versus $729 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 517% higher in Caguas, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Caguas versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $336 vs $268 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇷 Caguas
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
17:34 5:34 PM
04:34 4:34 AM
11 h ahead of Caguas
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
70,318
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Caguas Phuket 16,650 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Caguas
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Caguas vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Caguas or Phuket?
Caguas costs about 34% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Caguas and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,432 per month in Caguas and $1,811 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Caguas or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Caguas and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $83.0 in Caguas and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Caguas compared to Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,621 in Caguas and $1,207 in Phuket. That's a gap of about 34%.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Caguas or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,207, than in Caguas at $1,621. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caguas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Caguas or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,207 versus $1,621 in Caguas. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Caguas compared to Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Caguas or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caguas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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