Cost of Living Comparison Between Cerro de Pasco and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Cerro de Pasco and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $515 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $852 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,189 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Cerro de Pasco is about 58% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cerro de Pasco and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Cerro de Pasco 62% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76 PEN 9.70
$4.63 ฿151
-40.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.58 PEN 96.8
$46.84 ฿1,523
-41.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.12 PEN 25.00
$8.84 ฿287
-19.46%
Cappuccino
$1.92 PEN 6.74
$3.00 ฿97.4
-36.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 PEN 2.49
$0.74 ฿24.11
-4.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 PEN 1.40
$0.37 ฿11.88
8.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.25 PEN 7.90
$2.44 ฿79.3
-7.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88 PEN 13.62
$3.61 ฿117
7.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 PEN 4.99
$2.26 ฿73.5
-37.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 PEN 7.69
$1.84 ฿59.8
19.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.24 PEN 4.35
$2.24 ฿73.0
-44.64%
Eggs
$2.30 PEN 8.06
$2.32 ฿75.3
-0.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.81 PEN 27.42
$19.67 ฿639
-60.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.68 PEN 19.94
$3.65 ฿119
55.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.76 PEN 27.23
$13.10 ฿426
-40.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 PEN 7.26
$3.39 ฿110
-38.94%
Banana (1kg)
$0.67 PEN 2.35
$1.64 ฿53.4
-59.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.40 PEN 1.41
$2.41 ฿78.5
-83.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 PEN 4.01
$2.03 ฿66.0
-43.84%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 PEN 2.50
$1.56 ฿50.6
-54.49%
Onion (1kg)
$0.51 PEN 1.79
$1.50 ฿48.66
-66.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 PEN 2.84
$1.02 ฿33.30
-20.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 PEN 2.95
$0.49 ฿15.91
71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.65 PEN 19.84
$4.45 ฿145
26.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.08 PEN 24.85
$18.88 ฿614
-62.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 PEN 6.19
$1.78 ฿57.7
-1.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 PEN 8.69
$2.75 ฿89.5
-10.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.40 ฿45.54
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.48 ฿373
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 PEN 12.02
$3.12 ฿101
9.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.11 PEN 7.42
$1.00 ฿32.48
111.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.08 PEN 28.37
$14.09 ฿458
-42.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 PEN 4.76
$1.35 ฿43.93
0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K PEN 69.2K
$27.2K ฿883.7K
-27.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K PEN 86.1K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-25.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.8 PEN 199
$125 ฿4,063
-54.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.63 PEN 44.34
$13.57 ฿441
-6.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.62 PEN 82.9
$18.52 ฿602
27.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$61.5 ฿1,999
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84 ฿547
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.83 PEN 23.97
$9.19 ฿299
-25.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$216 PEN 760
$698 ฿22.7K
-68.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,926 PEN 27.8K
$15.6K ฿506.9K
-49.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.94 PEN 175
$57.8 ฿1,878
-13.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 PEN 128
$35.24 ฿1,146
3.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 PEN 315
$113 ฿3,677
-20.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.9 PEN 315
$86.4 ฿2,808
4.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$616 ฿20.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$446 ฿14.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$391 PEN 1,371
$2,048 ฿66.6K
-80.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,492 ฿48.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,779 ฿122.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,649 ฿86.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cerro de Pasco
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$460 PEN 1,613
$524 ฿17.0K
-12.28%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 14% 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 $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $292 – 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 139%, 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 $772 per month in Cerro de Pasco and $1,847 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 Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cerro de Pasco and $47.00 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 Phuket?
Groceries cost about 53% 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 Cerro de Pasco or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cerro de Pasco, where all-in costs run around $515, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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

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