😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,706 in La Moraleja versus $1,265 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in La Moraleja versus $2,297 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,392 in La Moraleja versus $3,329 in Phuket.
😐Living in La Moraleja is roughly 35% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: La Moraleja is 27% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.05€14.67
$4.70฿153
262.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.4€60.5
$45.37฿1,482
55.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.30€8.86
$8.43฿275
22.18%
Cappuccino
$2.37€2.04
$2.93฿95.6
-19.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09€2.66
$0.69฿22.40
347.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.37฿11.99
456.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55€3.05
$2.41฿78.6
47.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67€4.02
$3.72฿122
25.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.01
$2.23฿72.9
-47.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07€0.92
$1.83฿59.8
-41.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76€1.51
$2.17฿70.8
-18.89%
Eggs
$2.70€2.32
$2.21฿72.3
22.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.89€12.81
$19.74฿645
-24.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.00€7.74
$3.63฿119
147.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.12€14.73
$13.53฿442
26.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$3.28฿107
-16.16%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13€1.84
$1.61฿52.6
32.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$2.41฿78.6
-20.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$2.08฿68.1
32.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.58
$1.53฿49.93
19.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06€1.77
$1.48฿48.36
39.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.42€1.22
$0.99฿32.29
43.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62€0.53
$0.51฿16.67
21.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.11€6.12
$4.41฿144
61.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.30€7.14
$19.38฿633
-57.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27€1.09
$1.78฿58.1
-28.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21€1.90
$2.71฿88.6
-18.45%
🚌 Getting Around
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.41
$1.37฿44.79
19.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.36€29.56
$11.39฿372
201.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.95€3.40
$3.02฿98.6
30.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33€1.15
$0.99฿32.48
34.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.40€24.43
$14.10฿461
101.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.55
$1.36฿44.51
32.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K€32.2K
$28.2K฿921.1K
32.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K€28.6K
$32.9K฿1.1M
1.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$192€166
$122฿3,975
58.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.75€18.71
$13.57฿443
60.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.91€30.89
$18.31฿598
96.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.10€40.52
$60.2฿1,967
-21.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.22€13.09
$17.14฿560
-11.20%
Cinema Ticket
$11.42€9.83
$8.69฿284
31.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$262€225
$693฿22.6K
-62.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,051€1,765
$15.7K฿512.3K
-86.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.6€74.5
$59.5฿1,944
45.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.92€32.62
$34.77฿1,136
9.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5€79.5
$115฿3,743
-19.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8€74.7
$83.3฿2,720
4.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$843€725
$613฿20.0K
37.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$682€587
$437฿14.3K
56.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303€1,121
$2,094฿68.4K
-37.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$998€858
$1,509฿49.3K
-33.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,006€2,585
$3,749฿122.5K
-19.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,065€1,776
$2,616฿85.4K
-21.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Moraleja
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,839€3,302
$508฿16.6K
655.47%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $843 in La Moraleja and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰La Moraleja pays 655% 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: $70.0 in La Moraleja vs $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $279 vs $293, 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 Phuket?
La Moraleja and Phuket differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($1,706 vs $1,265 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?
La Moraleja pays 655% more on average, 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 Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $843 in La Moraleja versus $613 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 $45.00 versus $70.0 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 $1,706 per month in La Moraleja versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 35% 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 $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,706 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 35% 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