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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $663 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,232 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,801 per month in Isla de Margarita vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Isla de Margarita is about 46% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Isla de Margarita and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Isla de Margarita 51% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Isla de Margarita
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.96 VES 4,850
$4.63 ฿151
115.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.1 VES 38.5K
$46.84 ฿1,532
68.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.84 ฿289
-
Cappuccino
$2.51 VES 1,224
$3.00 ฿98.0
-16.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 VES 495
$0.74 ฿24.25
37.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 VES 742
$0.37 ฿11.95
310.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 VES 477
$2.44 ฿79.8
-59.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 VES 1,504
$3.61 ฿118
-14.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Isla de Margarita
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 VES 954
$2.26 ฿73.9
-13.27%
White Bread (500g)
$2.95 VES 1,435
$1.84 ฿60.1
60.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 VES 957
$2.24 ฿73.4
-12.50%
Eggs
$2.45 VES 1,195
$2.32 ฿75.7
5.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.24 VES 4,013
$19.67 ฿643
-58.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.78 VES 3,792
$3.65 ฿119
113.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.90 VES 3,849
$13.10 ฿428
-39.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.88 VES 1,891
$3.39 ฿111
14.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 VES 742
$1.64 ฿53.7
-7.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 VES 982
$2.41 ฿79.0
-16.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 VES 1,181
$2.03 ฿66.4
19.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 VES 717
$1.56 ฿50.9
-5.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 VES 866
$1.50 ฿48.94
18.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 VES 481
$1.02 ฿33.50
-2.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.49 ฿16.00
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.45 ฿145
-
Wine (Bottle)
$4.88 VES 2,378
$18.88 ฿617
-74.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 VES 477
$1.78 ฿58.1
-44.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 VES 742
$2.75 ฿90.1
-44.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Isla de Margarita
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.40 ฿45.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.48 ฿376
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.92 VES 1,423
$3.12 ฿102
-6.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.02 VES 1,470
$1.00 ฿32.67
202.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$14.09 ฿461
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.35 ฿44.19
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.2K ฿888.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Isla de Margarita
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$29.45 VES 14.3K
$125 ฿4,087
-76.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.74 VES 7,178
$13.57 ฿444
8.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.33 VES 19.6K
$18.52 ฿606
117.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Isla de Margarita
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.9 VES 24.8K
$61.5 ฿2,010
-17.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.73 VES 7,174
$16.84 ฿551
-12.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 VES 2,398
$9.19 ฿300
-46.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Isla de Margarita
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$698 ฿22.8K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$15.6K ฿509.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Isla de Margarita
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.9 VES 38.4K
$57.8 ฿1,889
36.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$35.24 ฿1,152
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 VES 49.2K
$113 ฿3,699
-10.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 VES 49.6K
$86.4 ฿2,825
17.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Isla de Margarita
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$298 VES 144.9K
$616 ฿20.1K
-51.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$446 ฿14.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$498 VES 242.7K
$2,048 ฿67.0K
-75.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,492 ฿48.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$589 VES 286.8K
$3,779 ฿123.6K
-84.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,649 ฿86.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Isla de Margarita
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$524 ฿17.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.33
-

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

Last update for Isla de Margarita: April 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $298 in Isla de Margarita versus $616 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 $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Isla de Margarita vs $292 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
Is Phuket cheaper than Isla de Margarita?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 86%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $994 per month in Isla de Margarita and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Isla de Margarita and Phuket?
Groceries cost about 26% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Isla de Margarita or Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Isla de Margarita and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Isla de Margarita or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isla de Margarita, where all-in costs run around $663, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Isla de Margarita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Isla de Margarita or Phuket more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Isla de Margarita or Phuket?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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