Cost of Living Comparison Between Mataro and PhuketCost of Living Comparison Between Mataro and Phuket
Monthly Cost of Living
ðA single person spends $1,829 per month in Mataro vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,709 per month in Mataro vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,589 per month in Mataro vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
ðMataro costs about 49% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðMataro sits 37% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Mataro
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.08âŽ14.58
$4.63āļŋ151
268.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.0âŽ49.55
$46.84āļŋ1,523
23.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.53âŽ8.99
$8.84āļŋ287
19.12%
Cappuccino
$2.15âŽ1.84
$3.00āļŋ97.4
-28.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71âŽ2.32
$0.74āļŋ24.11
266.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07âŽ1.76
$0.37āļŋ11.88
459.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.56âŽ3.89
$2.44āļŋ79.3
86.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40âŽ2.91
$3.61āļŋ117
-5.82%
ð Groceries & Markets
Mataro
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29âŽ1.11
$2.26āļŋ73.5
-42.92%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05âŽ1.75
$1.84āļŋ59.8
11.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29âŽ1.10
$2.24āļŋ73.0
-42.41%
Eggs
$3.36âŽ2.87
$2.32āļŋ75.3
44.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.53âŽ14.97
$19.67āļŋ639
-10.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53âŽ8.14
$3.65āļŋ119
161.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.97âŽ11.93
$13.10āļŋ426
6.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.66âŽ2.27
$3.39āļŋ110
-21.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00âŽ1.71
$1.64āļŋ53.4
21.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.46âŽ2.10
$2.41āļŋ78.5
2.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.86âŽ2.44
$2.03āļŋ66.0
40.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97âŽ1.68
$1.56āļŋ50.6
26.28%
Onion(1kg)
$2.30âŽ1.96
$1.50āļŋ48.66
53.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51âŽ1.29
$1.02āļŋ33.30
48.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83âŽ0.71
$0.49āļŋ15.91
69.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.35âŽ5.43
$4.45āļŋ145
42.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.89âŽ5.03
$18.88āļŋ614
-68.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23âŽ1.05
$1.78āļŋ57.7
-30.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33âŽ1.99
$2.75āļŋ89.5
-15.27%
ð Getting Around
Mataro
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.28âŽ1.95
$1.40āļŋ45.54
62.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$25.74âŽ21.99
$11.48āļŋ373
124.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.47âŽ2.11
$3.12āļŋ101
-20.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58âŽ1.35
$1.00āļŋ32.48
58.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.02âŽ24.78
$14.09āļŋ458
105.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81âŽ1.54
$1.35āļŋ43.93
34.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9KâŽ32.4K
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
39.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KâŽ25.6K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-9.11%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataro
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186âŽ159
$125āļŋ4,063
49.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91âŽ17.86
$13.57āļŋ441
54.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.38âŽ31.07
$18.52āļŋ602
96.44%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Mataro
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$63.5âŽ54.3
$61.5āļŋ1,999
3.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.85âŽ12.68
$16.84āļŋ547
-11.82%
Cinema Ticket
$10.88âŽ9.29
$9.19āļŋ299
18.39%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Mataro
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$529âŽ452
$698āļŋ22.7K
-24.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,222âŽ7,021
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
-47.27%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Mataro
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.3âŽ63.5
$57.8āļŋ1,878
28.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81âŽ32.29
$35.24āļŋ1,146
7.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.5âŽ77.3
$113āļŋ3,677
-20.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112âŽ95.6
$86.4āļŋ2,808
29.65%
ð Accommodation & Living
Mataro
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$889âŽ759
$616āļŋ20.0K
44.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$810âŽ692
$446āļŋ14.5K
81.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,366âŽ1,167
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
-33.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,237âŽ1,056
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
-17.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,530âŽ3,015
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
-6.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,910âŽ2,485
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
9.85%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Mataro
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,029âŽ1,733
$524āļŋ17.0K
287.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
5.33
-36.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mataro: April 28, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $889 in Mataro 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.
ð°Salaries run about 287% higher in Mataro, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Mataro versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $292 â making Phuket 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
Mataro vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mataro and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,829 in Mataro, $1,232 in Phuket â roughly 49% apart. Mataro costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mataro compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,743 per month in Mataro and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mataro and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Mataro and Phuket?
Public transport costs about 124% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mataro and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $529 per month in Mataro and $698 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Mataro at $1,829. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mataro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mataro and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $1,829 in Mataro. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mataro or Phuket safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Mataro and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mataro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.