Cost of Living Comparison Between Fuengirola and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Fuengirola and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,758 per month in Fuengirola vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,669 per month in Fuengirola vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,581 per month in Fuengirola vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Fuengirola costs about 39% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Fuengirola sits 27% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fuengirola
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.29 €14.04
$4.66 ฿154
249.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.9 €60.3
$32.22 ฿1,065
117.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.53 €9.08
$8.68 ฿287
21.31%
Cappuccino
$2.77 €2.39
$2.90 ฿95.8
-4.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 €2.33
$0.84 ฿27.89
221.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 €1.83
$0.49 ฿16.16
332.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 €3.07
$2.48 ฿82.0
43.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 €3.93
$3.73 ฿123
22.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fuengirola
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.08
$1.89 ฿62.3
-33.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.49 €1.29
$1.41 ฿46.54
5.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.62 ฿53.6
-3.09%
Eggs
$2.91 €2.51
$2.24 ฿74.1
29.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.63 €13.47
$19.84 ฿656
-21.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.54 €7.36
$3.48 ฿115
145.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.61 €13.45
$11.37 ฿376
37.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 €2.02
$2.90 ฿95.8
-18.97%
Banana (1kg)
$2.04 €1.76
$1.72 ฿57.0
18.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 €1.49
$2.27 ฿75.1
-23.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.60 €2.24
$2.13 ฿70.4
22.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.63 €1.41
$1.47 ฿48.72
10.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.42 ฿46.92
15.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 €1.05
$1.10 ฿36.25
10.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 €0.56
$0.60 ฿19.76
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.65 €4.87
$4.31 ฿142
31.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.35 €5.48
$18.60 ฿615
-65.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 €0.93
$1.80 ฿59.5
-40.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 €1.43
$2.97 ฿98.0
-44.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Fuengirola
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.29 €1.97
$2.25 ฿74.2
1.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.78 €10.15
$23.49 ฿776
-49.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 €1.72
$3.10 ฿102
-35.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 €1.09
$1.08 ฿35.56
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.30 €20.08
$3.87 ฿128
502.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.72 €1.48
$1.43 ฿47.16
20.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K €31.4K
$27.8K ฿918.0K
31.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K €25.8K
$27.0K ฿891.5K
11.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fuengirola
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 €138
$105 ฿3,462
52.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.81 €9.32
$11.39 ฿376
-5.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.34 €22.70
$17.54 ฿580
50.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fuengirola
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.85 €39.52
$54.3 ฿1,795
-15.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.78 €24.81
$11.44 ฿378
151.57%
Cinema Ticket
$9.95 €8.57
$7.78 ฿257
27.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fuengirola
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$389 €335
$576 ฿19.0K
-32.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K €9,145
$11.6K ฿382.7K
-8.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fuengirola
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.8 €56.7
$63.6 ฿2,103
3.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.25 €32.11
$29.10 ฿961
28.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.6 €62.6
$96.2 ฿3,179
-24.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.4 €73.6
$90.0 ฿2,974
-5.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fuengirola
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,101 €949
$733 ฿24.2K
50.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$859 €741
$501 ฿16.5K
71.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,819 €1,568
$2,126 ฿70.2K
-14.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,353 €1,166
$1,252 ฿41.4K
8.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,734 €3,219
$3,534 ฿116.8K
5.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,814 €2,426
$2,622 ฿86.6K
7.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fuengirola
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,822 €1,570
$508 ฿16.8K
258.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.31
5.57
-40.57%

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

Last update for Fuengirola: September 5, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,101 in Fuengirola versus $733 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 259% higher in Fuengirola, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Fuengirola versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $268 in Fuengirola vs $275 in Phuket – so Fuengirola wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Fuengirola vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Fuengirola and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,758 in Fuengirola, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 39% apart. Fuengirola costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Fuengirola compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,637 per month in Fuengirola and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Fuengirola and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Fuengirola and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $389 per month in Fuengirola and $576 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Fuengirola – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Fuengirola at $1,758. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fuengirola it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Fuengirola and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,265 in Phuket to $1,758 in Fuengirola. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Fuengirola or Phuket safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Fuengirola and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fuengirola makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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