Cost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Caracas and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,313 per month in Caracas vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,237 per month in Caracas vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,162 per month in Caracas vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.
😐Caracas costs about 5% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Caracas and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Caracas4% lower, Phuket9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Caracas
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86VES 8,815
$4.56฿150
138.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.5VES 55.6K
$32.62฿1,073
109.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.05VES 8,971
$8.90฿293
24.16%
Cappuccino
$3.53VES 2,862
$2.80฿92.3
26.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49VES 1,206
$0.88฿28.96
69.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31VES 1,063
$0.49฿16.09
167.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.03VES 1,647
$2.39฿78.6
-15.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96VES 2,401
$3.71฿122
-20.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Caracas
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.75VES 2,235
$1.79฿58.8
53.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.24VES 1,819
$1.44฿47.43
55.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87VES 1,522
$1.58฿52.1
18.35%
Eggs
$4.76VES 3,865
$2.13฿70.0
123.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.01VES 8,126
$19.92฿655
-49.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.11VES 7,391
$3.43฿113
165.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.24VES 9,126
$11.33฿373
-0.79%
Apples(1kg)
$7.11VES 5,771
$2.95฿97.0
141.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98VES 1,609
$1.72฿56.6
15.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18VES 1,766
$2.32฿76.5
-6.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.34VES 1,900
$2.08฿68.5
12.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.37VES 1,925
$1.47฿48.37
61.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13VES 1,729
$1.36฿44.68
56.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57VES 1,277
$1.10฿36.15
42.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41VES 1,959
$0.57฿18.90
322.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.67VES 3,789
$4.27฿140
9.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.92VES 9,672
$18.42฿606
-35.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36VES 1,105
$1.87฿61.6
-27.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05VES 1,664
$2.92฿96.1
-29.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Caracas
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.52VES 425
$2.22฿73.0
-76.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.55VES 24.8K
$22.90฿753
33.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.11VES 4,147
$3.03฿99.7
68.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.83VES 2,295
$1.07฿35.34
164.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.28VES 12.4K
$3.93฿129
288.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83VES 673
$1.49฿49.09
-44.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.1KVES 20.4M
$27.1K฿892.5K
-7.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.5KVES 31.3M
$27.5K฿903.2K
40.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Caracas
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$23.11VES 18.8K
$103฿3,382
-77.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.85VES 9,617
$10.99฿362
7.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.68VES 29.8K
$17.51฿576
109.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Caracas
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.0VES 54.4K
$53.5฿1,761
25.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.84VES 14.5K
$11.20฿368
59.29%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59VES 5,352
$7.48฿246
-11.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Caracas
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161VES 131.0K
$557฿18.3K
-71.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,113VES 5.0M
$11.9K฿390.0K
-48.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Caracas
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.5VES 60.5K
$64.1฿2,108
16.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.55VES 37.8K
$29.07฿957
60.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$123VES 99.6K
$96.0฿3,157
27.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141VES 114.2K
$90.3฿2,972
55.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Caracas
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$608VES 493.9K
$730฿24.0K
-16.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433VES 351.7K
$500฿16.4K
-13.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,104VES 895.9K
$2,090฿68.8K
-47.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$866VES 703.0K
$1,209฿39.8K
-28.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,457VES 1.2M
$3,596฿118.3K
-59.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$681VES 552.9K
$2,512฿82.7K
-72.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Caracas
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$303VES 246.1K
$503฿16.6K
-39.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
22
5.57
294.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Caracas: August 30, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $608 in Caracas versus $730 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 66% higher in Phuket, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Caracas versus $33.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $335 vs $273 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Caracas vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Caracas?
Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,969 per month in Caracas and $1,880 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 33% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Caracas and $557 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Caracas or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,253, than in Caracas at $1,313. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Caracas or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Caracas or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caracas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.