😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,318 in Chaguanas versus $1,253 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,083 in Chaguanas versus $2,043 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,847 in Chaguanas versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Chaguanas is roughly 5% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Chaguanas4% lower, Phuket9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.33TTD 68.8
$4.56฿150
126.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.0TTD 392
$32.62฿1,073
80.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.12TTD 54.1
$8.90฿293
-8.76%
Cappuccino
$3.23TTD 21.46
$2.80฿92.2
15.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32TTD 8.76
$0.88฿28.94
50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99TTD 6.56
$0.49฿16.08
102.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.83TTD 12.20
$2.39฿78.5
-23.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55TTD 16.98
$3.71฿122
-31.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.50TTD 16.64
$1.79฿58.8
39.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26TTD 15.03
$1.44฿47.40
56.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19TTD 14.61
$1.58฿52.1
38.61%
Eggs
$3.90TTD 25.94
$2.13฿69.9
83.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.42TTD 49.37
$19.92฿655
-62.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.96TTD 53.0
$3.43฿113
132.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.79TTD 78.5
$11.33฿372
4.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95TTD 19.61
$2.95฿97.0
-
Banana(1kg)
$3.06TTD 20.39
$1.72฿56.6
77.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.05TTD 20.31
$2.32฿76.5
31.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.27TTD 35.06
$2.08฿68.4
153.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48TTD 16.49
$1.47฿48.34
68.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17TTD 14.42
$1.36฿44.65
59.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93TTD 12.85
$1.10฿36.13
75.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32TTD 8.81
$0.57฿18.89
131.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00TTD 19.97
$4.27฿140
-29.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.38TTD 136
$18.42฿606
10.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91TTD 12.73
$1.87฿61.5
2.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55TTD 16.98
$2.92฿96.1
-12.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72TTD 4.76
$2.22฿73.0
-67.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.90฿753
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.22TTD 14.77
$3.03฿99.6
-26.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36TTD 9.07
$1.07฿35.32
27.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.03TTD 100.0
$3.93฿129
282.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18TTD 7.85
$1.49฿49.06
-20.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1KTTD 226.7K
$27.1K฿892.0K
25.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0KTTD 226.2K
$27.5K฿902.6K
23.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102TTD 680
$103฿3,380
-0.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.11TTD 260
$10.99฿361
255.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5TTD 349
$17.51฿576
199.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7TTD 351
$53.5฿1,760
-1.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.39TTD 295
$11.20฿368
296.34%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89TTD 59.2
$7.48฿246
18.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307TTD 2,042
$557฿18.3K
-44.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$11.9K฿389.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.37TTD 315
$64.1฿2,107
-26.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.59TTD 283
$29.07฿956
46.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103TTD 687
$96.0฿3,155
7.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111TTD 739
$90.3฿2,970
22.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$468TTD 3,112
$730฿24.0K
-35.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376TTD 2,503
$500฿16.4K
-24.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$969TTD 6,445
$2,090฿68.7K
-53.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767TTD 5,105
$1,209฿39.8K
-36.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,596฿118.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,512฿82.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$792TTD 5,272
$503฿16.6K
57.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.57
-10.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chaguanas: September 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $468 in Chaguanas and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Chaguanas pays 57% 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: $59.0 in Chaguanas vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $332 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
Chaguanas vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chaguanas or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Chaguanas. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Chaguanas or in Phuket?
Average pay runs 57% higher in Chaguanas, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Chaguanas compared to Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $468 in Chaguanas versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Chaguanas or in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Chaguanas. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Chaguanas compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,318 per month in Chaguanas versus $1,253 in Phuket – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Chaguanas or in Phuket?
At $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,318 in Chaguanas, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Chaguanas. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chaguanas or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,253 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Chaguanas compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Chaguanas 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Chaguanas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.