🙂A single person spends $517 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $845 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,173 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Cerro de Pasco is about 59% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Cerro de Pasco and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Cerro de Pasco61% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75PEN 9.34
$4.48฿150
-38.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.91PEN 94.8
$45.59฿1,521
-38.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.80PEN 23.10
$8.76฿292
-22.37%
Cappuccino
$1.91PEN 6.49
$2.97฿99.0
-35.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68PEN 2.31
$0.69฿22.90
-1.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40PEN 1.36
$0.39฿13.04
2.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21PEN 7.50
$2.53฿84.4
-12.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95PEN 13.42
$3.75฿125
5.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40PEN 4.77
$2.15฿71.6
-34.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.28PEN 7.76
$1.82฿60.6
25.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19PEN 4.05
$2.18฿72.9
-45.41%
Eggs
$2.36PEN 8.03
$2.25฿75.0
4.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.09PEN 27.47
$20.00฿667
-59.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.57PEN 18.91
$3.63฿121
53.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.66PEN 26.02
$13.56฿452
-43.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96PEN 6.65
$3.24฿108
-39.51%
Banana(1kg)
$0.70PEN 2.38
$1.64฿54.6
-57.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.40PEN 1.36
$2.33฿77.8
-82.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08PEN 3.68
$2.07฿69.1
-47.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71PEN 2.40
$1.55฿51.6
-54.19%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51PEN 1.73
$1.46฿48.54
-65.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87PEN 2.94
$0.98฿32.86
-11.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82PEN 2.77
$0.48฿16.09
70.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.61PEN 19.06
$4.35฿145
28.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.30PEN 24.78
$18.57฿620
-60.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75PEN 5.94
$1.86฿61.9
-5.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57PEN 8.71
$2.65฿88.6
-3.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.42฿47.28
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.57฿386
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.37PEN 11.45
$3.17฿106
6.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.21PEN 7.51
$1.03฿34.41
114.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.21PEN 27.87
$13.89฿463
-40.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30PEN 4.41
$1.34฿44.84
-2.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KPEN 65.9K
$27.8K฿927.1K
-30.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8KPEN 84.1K
$33.4K฿1.1M
-25.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.7PEN 192
$123฿4,105
-53.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.80PEN 43.46
$13.77฿459
-7.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.55PEN 80.0
$18.33฿611
28.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.7฿2,025
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.16฿573
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.78PEN 23.01
$8.87฿296
-23.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$220PEN 748
$688฿22.9K
-67.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,048PEN 27.3K
$15.8K฿526.4K
-49.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.80PEN 169
$59.3฿1,978
-16.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.60PEN 121
$34.69฿1,157
2.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.2PEN 310
$115฿3,843
-20.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0PEN 299
$83.8฿2,794
5.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$621฿20.7K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$446฿14.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$389PEN 1,321
$2,034฿67.8K
-80.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,496฿49.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,455฿115.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,531฿84.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$472PEN 1,604
$494฿16.5K
-4.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.11
5.33
89.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cerro de Pasco: July 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 4% higher in Phuket, 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 $28.00 in Cerro de Pasco versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $291 – making Cerro de Pasco 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
Cerro de Pasco vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Cerro de Pasco?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 145%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $775 per month in Cerro de Pasco and $1,896 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Cerro de Pasco or in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cerro de Pasco and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Cerro de Pasco and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cerro de Pasco or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cerro de Pasco, where all-in costs run around $517, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Cerro de Pasco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cerro de Pasco or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cerro de Pasco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cerro de Pasco 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 Cerro de Pasco. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Cerro de Pasco vs other spots: cost of living compared