Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuajimalpa and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Cuajimalpa and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,086 in Cuajimalpa versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,742 in Cuajimalpa versus $2,276 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,398 in Cuajimalpa versus $3,291 in Phuket.

Living in Cuajimalpa costs roughly 14% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cuajimalpa 19% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cuajimalpa
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.48 MX$182
$4.53 ฿153
131.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.95 MX$678
$46.36 ฿1,565
-15.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.81 MX$136
$8.65 ฿292
-9.71%
Cappuccino
$3.20 MX$55.7
$3.09 ฿104
3.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$22.16
$0.68 ฿22.89
86.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MX$15.92
$0.37 ฿12.44
148.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 MX$40.92
$2.42 ฿81.6
-2.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 MX$68.2
$3.81 ฿129
2.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cuajimalpa
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 MX$26.13
$2.18 ฿73.5
-31.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.55 MX$44.43
$1.82 ฿61.3
40.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.58 MX$27.47
$2.18 ฿73.5
-27.52%
Eggs
$2.37 MX$41.17
$2.24 ฿75.4
5.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.07 MX$140
$19.93 ฿673
-59.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.85 MX$137
$3.64 ฿123
115.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.38 MX$181
$13.56 ฿458
-23.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 MX$46.13
$3.29 ฿111
-19.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 MX$25.22
$1.69 ฿56.9
-14.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.76 MX$30.70
$2.33 ฿78.8
-24.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 MX$27.94
$2.03 ฿68.4
-20.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 MX$33.62
$1.60 ฿54.0
20.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.92
$1.49 ฿50.5
34.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 MX$21.90
$1.01 ฿34.17
24.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 MX$17.08
$0.48 ฿16.09
104.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$73.2
$4.45 ฿150
-5.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.79 MX$188
$18.63 ฿629
-42.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$27.82
$1.79 ฿60.3
-10.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 MX$49.60
$2.80 ฿94.4
1.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Cuajimalpa
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.66 MX$11.42
$1.42 ฿47.90
-53.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.33 ฿382
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.62 MX$45.57
$3.09 ฿104
-15.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.54 MX$26.76
$1.04 ฿35.19
48.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.44 MX$147
$13.63 ฿460
-38.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$22.97
$1.31 ฿44.23
0.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K MX$371.6K
$27.3K ฿920.7K
-21.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K MX$388.8K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-32.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cuajimalpa
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.0 MX$992
$123 ฿4,157
-53.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.90 MX$381
$13.81 ฿466
58.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.71 MX$482
$18.52 ฿625
49.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cuajimalpa
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.41 MX$634
$60.4 ฿2,037
-39.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.91 MX$277
$16.80 ฿567
-5.30%
Cinema Ticket
$4.56 MX$79.3
$8.89 ฿300
-48.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cuajimalpa
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$210 MX$3,654
$687 ฿23.2K
-69.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,556 MX$61.9K
$15.6K ฿524.8K
-77.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cuajimalpa
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 MX$934
$57.6 ฿1,945
-6.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.35 MX$685
$34.66 ฿1,170
13.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 MX$1,588
$115 ฿3,879
-20.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.8 MX$1,389
$84.9 ฿2,865
-6.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cuajimalpa
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$502 MX$8,735
$618 ฿20.8K
-18.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$396 MX$6,887
$443 ฿15.0K
-10.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$945 MX$16.4K
$2,047 ฿69.1K
-53.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$760 MX$13.2K
$1,506 ฿50.8K
-49.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,048 MX$35.6K
$3,568 ฿120.4K
-42.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,308 MX$22.8K
$2,511 ฿84.7K
-47.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cuajimalpa
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$503 ฿17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.48
5.33
115.38%

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

Last update for Cuajimalpa: July 19, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $502 in Cuajimalpa and $618 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Cuajimalpa vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $292 per month, with Cuajimalpa 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
Cuajimalpa vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Cuajimalpa?
Cuajimalpa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,628 in Cuajimalpa and $1,891 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Cuajimalpa and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $502 in Cuajimalpa versus $618 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $210 in Cuajimalpa versus $687 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Cuajimalpa or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Cuajimalpa – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cuajimalpa or in Phuket?
At $1,086 in Cuajimalpa versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cuajimalpa but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Cuajimalpa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cuajimalpa or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Cuajimalpa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cuajimalpa or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Cuajimalpa 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cuajimalpa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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