Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Guayaquil and Phuket

Name: Phuket
Address: Phuket, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,048 per month in Guayaquil vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,668 per month in Guayaquil vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,288 per month in Guayaquil vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Guayaquil is about 17% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Guayaquil and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Guayaquil 22% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 $3.57

$4.70 ฿153

-24.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.91 $46.91

$45.37 ฿1,482

3.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 $7.78

$8.43 ฿275

-7.71%

Cappuccino

$2.51 $2.51

$2.93 ฿95.6

-14.33%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.69 ฿22.40

23.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 $0.65

$0.37 ฿11.99

75.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 $2.98

$2.41 ฿78.6

23.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 $4.60

$3.72 ฿122

23.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$2.23 ฿72.9

-48.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.83 ฿59.8

-3.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.17 ฿70.8

-21.20%

Eggs

$2.62 $2.62

$2.21 ฿72.3

18.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$19.74 ฿645

-69.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.09 $5.09

$3.63 ฿119

40.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.27 $6.27

$13.53 ฿442

-53.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 $2.06

$3.28 ฿107

-37.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.61 ฿52.6

-4.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 $1.06

$2.41 ฿78.6

-56.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 $1.20

$2.08 ฿68.1

-42.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.53 ฿49.93

23.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 $1.47

$1.48 ฿48.36

-0.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 $0.70

$0.99 ฿32.29

-29.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 $0.98

$0.51 ฿16.67

92.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.97 $5.97

$4.41 ฿144

35.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.90 $11.90

$19.38 ฿633

-38.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.78 ฿58.1

-11.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$2.71 ฿88.6

-21.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 $0.34

$1.37 ฿44.79

-75.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.55 $20.55

$11.39 ฿372

80.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 $2.70

$3.02 ฿98.6

-10.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 $2.71

$0.99 ฿32.48

173.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.06 $10.06

$14.10 ฿461

-28.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 $0.64

$1.36 ฿44.51

-52.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.3K $25.3K

$28.2K ฿921.1K

-10.31%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.2K $29.2K

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-11.40%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$111 $111

$122 ฿3,975

-9.19%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.65 $13.65

$13.57 ฿443

0.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.09 $32.09

$18.31 ฿598

75.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.42 $35.42

$60.2 ฿1,967

-41.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.79 $46.79

$17.14 ฿560

172.99%

Cinema Ticket

$7.96 $7.96

$8.69 ฿284

-8.40%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$319 $319

$693 ฿22.6K

-53.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,838 $5,838

$15.7K ฿512.3K

-62.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 $51.5

$59.5 ฿1,944

-13.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.04 $44.04

$34.77 ฿1,136

26.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$115 ฿3,743

-9.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 $112

$83.3 ฿2,720

35.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$613 ฿20.0K

-45.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 $366

$437 ฿14.3K

-16.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 $508

$2,094 ฿68.4K

-75.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$694 $694

$1,509 ฿49.3K

-54.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,305 $2,305

$3,749 ฿122.5K

-38.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,469 $1,469

$2,616 ฿85.4K

-43.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$584 $584

$508 ฿16.6K

14.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.35

5.33

75.42%

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

Last update for Guayaquil: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Guayaquil versus $613 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 15% higher in Guayaquil, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Guayaquil versus $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Guayaquil vs $293 in Phuket – so Guayaquil 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

Guayaquil vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,572 per month in Guayaquil and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Guayaquil, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $319 per month in Guayaquil and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guayaquil, where all-in costs run around $1,048, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Guayaquil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Guayaquil – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Guayaquil. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.