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: $1,073 in Coquimbo versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,670 in Coquimbo versus $2,078 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,267 in Coquimbo versus $2,896 in Phuket.

Living in Coquimbo costs roughly 15% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Coquimbo 22% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.34 CLP 6,770
$4.43 ฿145
65.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.33 CLP 44.6K
$35.07 ฿1,151
37.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.47 CLP 5,970
$8.96 ฿294
-27.79%
Cappuccino
$3.86 CLP 3,564
$3.00 ฿98.4
28.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 CLP 1,082
$0.77 ฿25.33
51.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 CLP 1,035
$0.47 ฿15.44
138.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.34 CLP 4,006
$2.40 ฿78.6
80.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 CLP 4,668
$3.75 ฿123
34.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 CLP 984
$1.82 ฿59.8
-41.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 CLP 1,662
$1.42 ฿46.65
26.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 CLP 1,518
$1.55 ฿50.8
6.45%
Eggs
$3.90 CLP 3,596
$2.13 ฿69.9
83.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 CLP 10.6K
$19.76 ฿648
-41.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.47 CLP 5,970
$3.48 ฿114
85.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.70 CLP 11.7K
$11.09 ฿364
14.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 CLP 1,820
$2.91 ฿95.5
-32.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 CLP 1,538
$1.66 ฿54.6
0.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 CLP 1,591
$2.27 ฿74.5
-24.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.70 CLP 1,566
$2.10 ฿68.8
-19.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 CLP 947
$1.47 ฿48.24
-29.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 CLP 1,361
$1.41 ฿46.29
4.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 CLP 1,245
$1.09 ฿35.78
23.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 CLP 1,081
$0.54 ฿17.58
116.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.54 CLP 5,114
$4.48 ฿147
23.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.97 CLP 5,509
$18.72 ฿614
-68.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56 CLP 1,439
$1.84 ฿60.4
-15.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 CLP 2,104
$2.95 ฿96.7
-22.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 CLP 785
$2.26 ฿74.1
-62.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$23.07 ฿757
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.83 CLP 765
$3.04 ฿99.9
-72.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.09 ฿35.82
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.82 ฿125
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 CLP 1,369
$1.49 ฿48.79
-0.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K CLP 18.3M
$27.4K ฿900.3K
-27.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K CLP 22.6M
$27.5K ฿902.7K
-11.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 CLP 110.2K
$102 ฿3,340
17.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 CLP 12.5K
$11.28 ฿370
19.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.45 CLP 18.9K
$17.75 ฿582
15.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.85 CLP 25.7K
$54.2 ฿1,777
-48.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.55 CLP 5,117
$10.96 ฿360
-49.36%
Cinema Ticket
$7.26 CLP 6,697
$7.85 ฿258
-7.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$444 CLP 410.0K
$577 ฿18.9K
-23.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,551 CLP 7.9M
$11.6K ฿381.6K
-26.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 CLP 47.4K
$65.4 ฿2,144
-21.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.01 CLP 27.7K
$28.89 ฿948
3.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.2 CLP 55.6K
$99.1 ฿3,250
-39.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.8 CLP 69.0K
$90.3 ฿2,961
-17.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$512 CLP 472.4K
$756 ฿24.8K
-32.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$425 CLP 391.9K
$487 ฿16.0K
-12.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,042 CLP 961.0K
$2,085 ฿68.4K
-50.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$682 CLP 629.6K
$1,207 ฿39.6K
-43.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,591 ฿117.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,610 ฿85.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Coquimbo
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$647 CLP 596.5K
$502 ฿16.5K
28.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.15
5.57
-7.54%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Coquimbo: August 16, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $512 in Coquimbo and $756 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Coquimbo pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Coquimbo vs $35.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $272, 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 17% in total monthly costs ($1,073 vs $1,261 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 29% higher in Coquimbo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Coquimbo and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $512 in Coquimbo versus $756 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Coquimbo and Phuket?
Childcare runs $444 in Coquimbo versus $577 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 $48.00 versus $35.00 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 $1,073 in Coquimbo versus $1,261 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 17% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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