🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $726 in La Paz Centro versus $1,264 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,135 in La Paz Centro versus $2,256 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,544 in La Paz Centro versus $3,248 in Phuket.
🌍Living in La Paz Centro costs roughly 43% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: La Paz Centro45% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
La Paz Centro
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.79NIO 175
$4.48฿150
6.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.59NIO 1,267
$45.59฿1,521
-24.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.85NIO 251
$8.76฿292
-21.80%
Cappuccino
$2.45NIO 89.7
$2.97฿99.0
-17.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80NIO 29.18
$0.69฿22.90
15.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69NIO 25.45
$0.39฿13.04
76.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.34NIO 48.91
$2.53฿84.4
-47.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98NIO 72.7
$3.75฿125
-47.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
La Paz Centro
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22NIO 44.79
$2.15฿71.6
-43.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45NIO 89.8
$1.82฿60.6
34.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80NIO 66.1
$2.18฿72.9
-17.43%
Eggs
$2.28NIO 83.4
$2.25฿75.0
1.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.14NIO 408
$20.00฿667
-44.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.81NIO 249
$3.63฿121
87.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.01NIO 294
$13.56฿452
-40.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.79NIO 139
$3.24฿108
16.98%
Banana(1kg)
$0.89NIO 32.43
$1.64฿54.6
-45.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79NIO 65.5
$2.33฿77.8
-23.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18NIO 79.8
$2.07฿69.1
5.31%
Potato(1kg)
$3.85NIO 141
$1.55฿51.6
148.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.16NIO 79.1
$1.46฿48.54
47.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02NIO 37.28
$0.98฿32.86
4.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.05NIO 38.55
$0.48฿16.09
118.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60NIO 95.1
$4.35฿145
-40.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.96NIO 548
$18.57฿620
-19.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44NIO 52.9
$1.86฿61.9
-22.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19NIO 80.4
$2.65฿88.6
-17.36%
🚌 Getting Around
La Paz Centro
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.42฿47.28
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.57฿386
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.52NIO 55.8
$3.17฿106
-52.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.03฿34.41
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.78NIO 248
$13.89฿463
-51.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37NIO 50.1
$1.34฿44.84
2.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KNIO 854.7K
$27.8K฿927.1K
-16.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KNIO 963.7K
$33.4K฿1.1M
-21.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
La Paz Centro
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.9NIO 3,587
$123฿4,105
-20.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.28NIO 633
$13.77฿459
25.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.86NIO 1,350
$18.33฿611
101.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
La Paz Centro
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$60.7฿2,025
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.16฿573
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.88NIO 289
$8.87฿296
-11.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
La Paz Centro
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$124NIO 4,528
$688฿22.9K
-82.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,081NIO 222.7K
$15.8K฿526.4K
-61.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
La Paz Centro
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.1NIO 2,788
$59.3฿1,978
28.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.3NIO 2,683
$34.69฿1,157
111.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133NIO 4,864
$115฿3,843
15.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109NIO 3,989
$83.8฿2,794
30.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
La Paz Centro
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$621฿20.7K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$446฿14.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,034฿67.8K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,496฿49.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,455฿115.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,531฿84.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
La Paz Centro
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.25
5.33
92.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for La Paz Centro: July 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in La Paz Centro vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 vs $291 per month, with La Paz Centro cheaper across the board.
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 Paz Centro vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than La Paz Centro?
La Paz Centro is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,089 in La Paz Centro and $1,896 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in La Paz Centro and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in La Paz Centro and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $726 per month in La Paz Centro versus $1,264 in Phuket – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in La Paz Centro or in Phuket?
At $726 in La Paz Centro versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in La Paz Centro but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes La Paz Centro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is La Paz Centro or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, La Paz Centro is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, La Paz Centro or Phuket?
Safety-wise, La Paz Centro 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find La Paz Centro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
La Paz Centro vs other spots: cost of living compared