Cost of Living Comparison Between Leon and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Leon and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $841 per month in Leon vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,393 per month in Leon vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,945 per month in Leon vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Leon is about 33% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Leon and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Leon 37% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Leon
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07 MX$229
$4.55 ฿153
187.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.23 MX$688
$46.18 ฿1,554
-15.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.27 MX$110
$8.84 ฿298
-29.07%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$63.0
$3.06 ฿103
17.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 MX$26.83
$0.73 ฿24.42
109.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 MX$15.58
$0.40 ฿13.40
122.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 MX$29.27
$2.43 ฿81.8
-31.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18 MX$73.4
$3.78 ฿127
10.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Leon
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 MX$22.47
$2.26 ฿76.0
-43.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 MX$34.29
$1.81 ฿60.9
8.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 MX$20.80
$2.25 ฿75.8
-47.11%
Eggs
$1.63 MX$28.55
$2.25 ฿75.6
-27.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.44 MX$113
$19.51 ฿656
-66.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.37 MX$94.2
$3.65 ฿123
47.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.13 MX$178
$13.05 ฿439
-22.38%
Apples (1kg)
$1.56 MX$27.28
$3.23 ฿109
-51.70%
Banana (1kg)
$0.88 MX$15.36
$1.62 ฿54.4
-45.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.60 MX$10.52
$2.38 ฿80.2
-74.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 MX$9.00
$2.03 ฿68.2
-74.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 MX$26.55
$1.53 ฿51.6
-1.31%
Onion (1kg)
$0.84 MX$14.65
$1.50 ฿50.5
-44.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 MX$13.36
$0.98 ฿32.93
-22.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 MX$17.11
$0.52 ฿17.40
88.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.07 MX$71.5
$4.44 ฿149
-8.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.48 MX$254
$18.32 ฿616
-20.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 MX$22.64
$1.86 ฿62.7
-30.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 MX$49.51
$2.68 ฿90.2
5.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Leon
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 MX$12.13
$1.41 ฿47.49
-51.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.65 MX$643
$11.70 ฿394
213.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 MX$54.6
$3.11 ฿105
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 MX$15.74
$1.04 ฿35.08
-13.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.13 MX$230
$14.11 ฿475
-6.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 MX$23.12
$1.31 ฿44.13
0.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K MX$375.1K
$27.8K ฿936.0K
-23.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K MX$409.7K
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-29.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Leon
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$21.24 MX$373
$122 ฿4,120
-82.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.58 MX$414
$13.59 ฿457
73.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.22 MX$390
$18.70 ฿629
18.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Leon
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.25 MX$496
$60.5 ฿2,035
-53.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.98 MX$280
$16.98 ฿572
-5.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.35 MX$76.4
$9.07 ฿305
-52.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Leon
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$208 MX$3,642
$706 ฿23.8K
-70.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,822 MX$49.5K
$15.8K ฿531.8K
-82.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Leon
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 MX$1,008
$58.6 ฿1,970
-1.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.58 MX$729
$35.36 ฿1,190
17.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.5 MX$904
$115 ฿3,885
-55.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$27.99 MX$491
$83.7 ฿2,818
-66.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Leon
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$214 MX$3,748
$626 ฿21.1K
-65.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$219 MX$3,849
$445 ฿15.0K
-50.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$402 MX$7,045
$2,040 ฿68.7K
-80.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,495
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-71.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,483 ฿117.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Leon
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$559 MX$9,813
$500 ฿16.8K
11.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.67
5.33
118.95%

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

Last update for Leon: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $214 in Leon versus $626 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 12% higher in Leon, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Leon versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $289 – making Leon the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Leon vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Leon or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 49% more than Leon, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Leon and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,261 per month in Leon and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Leon or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Leon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Leon or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Leon and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Leon and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Leon or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Leon, where all-in costs run around $841, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Leon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Leon or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Leon costs $841 versus $1,250 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Leon compared to 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.
Should I move to Leon or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Leon. 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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