Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chaguanas and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,207 a month against $1,287 in Chaguanas, rent and utilities included – about $960 less a year. The total is higher in Chaguanas despite lower rent and utilities.

Chaguanas
🇹🇹 Trinidad And Tobago
$1,287
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chaguanas 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 Chaguanas and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Chaguanas versus $1,207 in Phuket.

  • Chaguanas $1,287
  • Phuket $1,207

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,082 in Chaguanas versus $2,037 in Phuket.

  • Chaguanas $2,082
  • Phuket $2,037

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Chaguanas versus $2,867 in Phuket.

  • Chaguanas $2,876
  • Phuket $2,867

Living in Chaguanas is roughly 7% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Chaguanas 5% lower, Phuket 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.39 TTD 69.9
$4.58 ฿153
126.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.9 TTD 403
$32.48 ฿1,086
84.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.18 TTD 55.0
$8.55 ฿286
-4.33%
Cappuccino
$3.32 TTD 22.32
$2.72 ฿91.0
22.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 TTD 8.44
$0.94 ฿31.25
34.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 TTD 6.71
$0.49 ฿16.39
104.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 TTD 11.64
$2.59 ฿86.6
-33.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 TTD 17.69
$3.83 ฿128
-31.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.39 TTD 16.07
$1.74 ฿58.1
37.36%
White Bread (500g)
$2.14 TTD 14.36
$1.43 ฿47.82
49.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 TTD 14.61
$1.53 ฿51.0
41.83%
Eggs
$3.87 TTD 26.01
$2.17 ฿72.7
78.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.33 TTD 49.31
$19.15 ฿640
-61.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.03 TTD 54.0
$3.30 ฿110
143.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.80 TTD 79.4
$11.14 ฿372
5.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 TTD 19.98
$2.95 ฿98.5
0.68%
Banana (1kg)
$3.01 TTD 20.23
$1.68 ฿56.1
79.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.86 TTD 19.22
$2.30 ฿76.8
24.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.01 TTD 33.68
$2.13 ฿71.3
135.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.47 TTD 16.59
$1.53 ฿51.1
61.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 TTD 14.55
$1.36 ฿45.55
58.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 TTD 13.37
$1.12 ฿37.44
77.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 TTD 8.68
$0.55 ฿18.24
134.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89 TTD 19.41
$4.26 ฿142
-32.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.92 TTD 134
$18.19 ฿608
9.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 TTD 12.87
$1.74 ฿58.2
9.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 TTD 17.19
$2.79 ฿93.3
-8.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.76 TTD 5.10
$2.22 ฿74.1
-65.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.06 ฿737
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.21 TTD 14.87
$2.91 ฿97.3
-24.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.33 TTD 8.95
$1.01 ฿33.79
31.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.46 TTD 97.3
$3.83 ฿128
277.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 TTD 7.52
$1.49 ฿49.85
-24.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K TTD 223.0K
$26.7K ฿891.6K
24.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K TTD 226.2K
$26.7K ฿892.7K
25.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 TTD 691
$99.4 ฿3,321
3.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.71 TTD 260
$11.28 ฿377
243.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.3 TTD 345
$17.36 ฿580
195.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.3 TTD 345
$52.3 ฿1,747
-1.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.48 TTD 299
$10.85 ฿362
309.95%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 TTD 57.7
$7.57 ฿253
13.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 TTD 2,042
$558 ฿18.7K
-45.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.5K ฿383.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.03 TTD 303
$62.9 ฿2,102
-28.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.30 TTD 285
$28.58 ฿955
48.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.7 TTD 664
$96.1 ฿3,213
2.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 TTD 716
$88.1 ฿2,943
20.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$463 TTD 3,112
$729 ฿24.4K
-36.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$386 TTD 2,597
$460 ฿15.4K
-16.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$948 TTD 6,376
$2,096 ฿70.0K
-54.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$759 TTD 5,106
$1,222 ฿40.8K
-37.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,459 ฿115.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,489 ฿83.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chaguanas
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$773 TTD 5,203
$493 ฿16.5K
56.86%
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: October 10, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chaguanas
$386
Phuket
$460 19.1% $74
Groceries & Markets
Chaguanas
$326
Phuket
$268 17.9% $58
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chaguanas
$193
Phuket
$128 33.6% $65
Eating Out
Chaguanas
$170
Phuket
$121 28.8% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Chaguanas
$132
Phuket
$124 5.8% $7.6
Sport & Entertainment
Chaguanas
$68
Phuket
$67 1.5% $1
Getting Around
Chaguanas
$12 *
Phuket
$39 227% $27

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $463 in Chaguanas and $729 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: $60.0 in Chaguanas vs $32.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $326 vs $268 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇹 Chaguanas
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
11:45 11:45 AM
22:45 10:45 PM
11 h ahead of Chaguanas
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
83,489
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to TTD – Trinidad and Tobago Dollar Converter

Trinidad and Tobago Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 6.73 TTD (1 TTD = 0.149 USD). 1 EUR = 7.56 TTD (1 TTD = 0.132 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Chaguanas Phuket 16,980 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chaguanas
  • 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
Chaguanas vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chaguanas or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost – living expenses run 7% 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: $463 in Chaguanas versus $729 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 22% 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 $1,287 per month in Chaguanas versus $1,207 in Phuket – a 7% 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 $1,207 in Phuket versus $1,287 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 $1,207 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 7% less than in Chaguanas. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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