Cost of Living Comparison Between Coquimbo and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Coquimbo and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $567 in Coquimbo versus $1,243 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $936 in Coquimbo versus $2,023 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,305 in Coquimbo versus $2,803 in Phuket.

Living in Coquimbo costs roughly 54% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Coquimbo 58% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.81 CLP 6,742
$4.37 ฿147
55.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.62 CLP 45.2K
$32.87 ฿1,103
38.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.28 CLP 6,215
$8.39 ฿282
-25.15%
Cappuccino
$3.66 CLP 3,617
$2.73 ฿91.8
34.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 CLP 1,158
$0.88 ฿29.59
32.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06 CLP 1,048
$0.47 ฿15.92
125.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.04 CLP 3,995
$2.36 ฿79.1
71.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73 CLP 4,685
$3.71 ฿124
27.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 CLP 1,044
$1.83 ฿61.5
-42.62%
White Bread (500g)
$3.19 CLP 3,157
$1.45 ฿48.58
120.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 CLP 1,245
$1.58 ฿52.9
-20.25%
Eggs
$2.68 CLP 2,649
$2.10 ฿70.4
27.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.35 CLP 8,260
$19.37 ฿650
-56.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$3.42 ฿115
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$10.96 ฿368
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.37 CLP 1,353
$3.00 ฿101
-54.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 CLP 1,892
$1.64 ฿54.9
16.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 CLP 1,038
$2.21 ฿74.1
-52.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.96 CLP 948
$2.12 ฿71.2
-54.72%
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.47 ฿49.34
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 CLP 1,257
$1.32 ฿44.37
-3.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 CLP 593
$1.07 ฿35.93
-43.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 CLP 1,337
$0.52 ฿17.61
159.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.05 CLP 5,002
$4.38 ฿147
15.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.45 CLP 8,363
$18.59 ฿624
-54.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.75 ฿58.6
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73 CLP 4,681
$2.86 ฿95.8
65.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 CLP 851
$2.26 ฿76.0
-61.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.98 ฿771
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$2.94 ฿98.7
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.07 ฿35.84
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.84 ฿129
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 CLP 1,412
$1.46 ฿48.96
-2.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.2K ฿912.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.6K ฿893.5K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 CLP 103.6K
$102 ฿3,420
2.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.18 CLP 12.1K
$10.96 ฿368
11.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$16.89 ฿567
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.14 CLP 25.9K
$52.4 ฿1,758
-50.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.10 CLP 5,047
$10.93 ฿367
-53.34%
Cinema Ticket
$4.02 CLP 3,979
$7.52 ฿252
-46.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$255 CLP 252.2K
$547 ฿18.3K
-53.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.4K CLP 29.1M
$11.3K ฿379.5K
159.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.59 CLP 45.1K
$63.2 ฿2,122
-27.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.39 CLP 25.1K
$29.23 ฿981
-13.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.4 CLP 60.8K
$97.8 ฿3,282
-37.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.1 CLP 80.3K
$86.7 ฿2,909
-6.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$721 ฿24.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$476 ฿16.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,081 ฿69.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,194 ฿40.1K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,577 ฿120.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,541 ฿85.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 CLP 610.4K
$489 ฿16.4K
26.16%
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 Coquimbo: September 28, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Coquimbo pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46.00 in Coquimbo vs $33.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $158 vs $269, with Coquimbo cheaper for home cooking.

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
Coquimbo vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Coquimbo and in Phuket?
Coquimbo and Phuket differ by about 119% in total monthly costs ($567 vs $1,243 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Coquimbo or Phuket?
Average pay runs 26% higher in Coquimbo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Coquimbo and Phuket?
Childcare runs $255 in Coquimbo versus $547 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Coquimbo – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $33.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $567 in Coquimbo versus $1,243 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Coquimbo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Coquimbo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Coquimbo and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Coquimbo or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Coquimbo 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.
Where should expats move: Coquimbo or Phuket?
Expats usually find Coquimbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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