😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,756 in La Moraleja versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,524 in La Moraleja versus $2,284 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,291 in La Moraleja versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in La Moraleja is roughly 40% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: La Moraleja is 31% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.62€15.41
$4.55฿153
287.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€59.9
$46.18฿1,554
48.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.33€9.04
$8.84฿298
16.86%
Cappuccino
$2.37€2.07
$3.06฿103
-22.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10€2.71
$0.73฿24.42
324.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.81
$0.40฿13.40
417.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.45€3.02
$2.43฿81.8
41.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.50€3.94
$3.78฿127
19.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19€1.04
$2.26฿76.0
-47.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11€0.97
$1.81฿60.9
-38.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.69€1.48
$2.25฿75.8
-24.89%
Eggs
$2.70€2.36
$2.25฿75.6
20.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.77€12.92
$19.51฿656
-24.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.88€7.77
$3.65฿123
143.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.96€14.84
$13.05฿439
29.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.31
$3.23฿109
-17.96%
Banana(1kg)
$2.15€1.88
$1.62฿54.4
32.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91€1.67
$2.38฿80.2
-19.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.76€2.42
$2.03฿68.2
35.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.88€1.64
$1.53฿51.6
22.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02€1.77
$1.50฿50.5
34.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.30
$0.98฿32.93
52.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63€0.55
$0.52฿17.40
21.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.96€6.09
$4.44฿149
56.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.08€7.07
$18.32฿616
-55.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24€1.09
$1.86฿62.7
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23€1.95
$2.68฿90.2
-16.79%
🚌 Getting Around
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70€1.49
$1.41฿47.49
20.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.16€29.89
$11.70฿394
191.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.03€3.53
$3.11฿105
29.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31€1.15
$1.04฿35.08
25.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.83€25.22
$14.11฿475
104.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85€1.62
$1.31฿44.13
41.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K€32.8K
$27.8K฿936.0K
34.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K€29.8K
$33.2K฿1.1M
2.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196€171
$122฿4,120
59.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.69€18.98
$13.59฿457
59.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.98€31.48
$18.70฿629
92.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.01€41.13
$60.5฿2,035
-22.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.86€13.00
$16.98฿572
-12.49%
Cinema Ticket
$11.35€9.93
$9.07฿305
25.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$265€232
$706฿23.8K
-62.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,079€1,819
$15.8K฿531.8K
-86.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.4€77.3
$58.6฿1,970
50.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.36€32.68
$35.36฿1,190
5.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.0€79.6
$115฿3,885
-21.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.7€77.6
$83.7฿2,818
5.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845€740
$626฿21.1K
35.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701€613
$445฿15.0K
57.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,337€1,170
$2,040฿68.7K
-34.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,018€890
$1,492฿50.2K
-31.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,210€2,808
$3,483฿117.2K
-7.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,021€1,768
$2,577฿86.7K
-21.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,738€3,270
$500฿16.8K
647.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
5.33
-35.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for La Moraleja: July 11, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $845 in La Moraleja and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰La Moraleja pays 648% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in La Moraleja vs $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $278 vs $289, with La Moraleja cheaper for home cooking.
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
La Moraleja vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in La Moraleja and in Phuket?
La Moraleja and Phuket differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($1,756 vs $1,250 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: La Moraleja or Phuket?
Average pay runs 648% higher in La Moraleja, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in La Moraleja and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $845 in La Moraleja versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $68.0 in La Moraleja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: La Moraleja or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $1,756 per month in La Moraleja versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,756 in La Moraleja, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in La Moraleja. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between La Moraleja and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is La Moraleja or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, La Moraleja 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.
Where should expats move: La Moraleja or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in La Moraleja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
La Moraleja vs other spots: cost of living compared