Cost of Living Comparison Between Isla de Margarita and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Isla de Margarita and Phuket

Name: Phuket
Address: Phuket, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $643 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,226 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,809 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Isla de Margarita is about 49% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Isla de Margarita and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Isla de Margarita 53% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.14 VES 8,422

$4.66 ฿154

117.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.0 VES 65.6K

$32.22 ฿1,065

145.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.68 ฿287

Cappuccino

$2.53 VES 2,101

$2.90 ฿95.8

-12.76%

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

$1.01 VES 842

$0.84 ฿27.89

20.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 VES 1,224

$0.49 ฿16.16

200.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 VES 850

$2.48 ฿82.0

-58.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 VES 2,520

$3.73 ฿123

-18.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 VES 1,705

$1.89 ฿62.3

8.47%

White Bread (500g)

$3.04 VES 2,524

$1.41 ฿46.54

115.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 VES 1,684

$1.62 ฿53.6

25.31%

Eggs

$2.37 VES 1,970

$2.24 ฿74.1

5.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 VES 6,798

$19.84 ฿656

-58.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.93 VES 6,588

$3.48 ฿115

127.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 VES 6,587

$11.37 ฿376

-30.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.94 VES 3,276

$2.90 ฿95.8

35.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 VES 1,273

$1.72 ฿57.0

-11.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 VES 1,678

$2.27 ฿75.1

-11.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.43 VES 2,018

$2.13 ฿70.4

14.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 VES 1,218

$1.47 ฿48.72

Onion (1kg)

$1.77 VES 1,468

$1.42 ฿46.92

24.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 VES 841

$1.10 ฿36.25

-8.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ฿19.76

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$5.04 VES 4,189

$18.60 ฿615

-72.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 VES 849

$1.80 ฿59.5

-43.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 VES 1,235

$2.97 ฿98.0

-49.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 VES 2,532

$3.10 ฿102

-1.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.06 VES 2,543

$1.08 ฿35.56

183.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.16

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

$27.8K ฿918.0K

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

$27.0K ฿891.5K

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

$29.92 VES 24.8K

$105 ฿3,462

-71.45%

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

$15.26 VES 12.7K

$11.39 ฿376

33.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.03 VES 33.2K

$17.54 ฿580

128.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.6 VES 42.0K

$54.3 ฿1,795

-6.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.26 VES 12.7K

$11.44 ฿378

33.39%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 VES 4,079

$7.78 ฿257

-36.89%

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

$576 ฿19.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿382.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$79.0 VES 65.6K

$63.6 ฿2,103

24.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.10 ฿961

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 VES 84.3K

$96.2 ฿3,179

5.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.0 VES 81.4K

$90.0 ฿2,974

8.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$301 VES 249.6K

$733 ฿24.2K

-59.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 ฿16.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 VES 416.6K

$2,126 ฿70.2K

-76.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,252 ฿41.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$607 VES 504.3K

$3,534 ฿116.8K

-82.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,622 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Isla de Margarita: September 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $301 in Isla de Margarita 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Isla de Margarita versus $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Isla de Margarita vs $275 in Phuket – so Isla de Margarita 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

Isla de Margarita vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 97%, 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 $965 per month in Isla de Margarita 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 Isla de Margarita, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Isla de Margarita and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isla de Margarita, where all-in costs run around $643, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Isla de Margarita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isla de Margarita – 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 Isla de Margarita. 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.