Cost of Living Comparison Between Mayaguez and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Mayaguez and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,531 in Mayaguez versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,223 in Mayaguez versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,914 in Mayaguez versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Mayaguez is roughly 21% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mayaguez is 14% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mayaguez
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.78 $12.78
$4.56 ฿149
180.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.0 $59.0
$46.63 ฿1,519
26.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.78 $8.78
$8.47 ฿276
3.66%
Cappuccino
$3.57 $3.57
$3.03 ฿98.6
17.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 $1.31
$0.69 ฿22.45
89.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 $1.23
$0.37 ฿11.92
232.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 $3.09
$2.49 ฿81.0
24.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 $4.02
$3.66 ฿119
9.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mayaguez
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 $1.63
$2.18 ฿71.0
-25.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.90 ฿62.0
22.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$2.20 ฿71.6
1.36%
Eggs
$2.78 $2.78
$2.22 ฿72.4
25.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.67 $8.67
$19.99 ฿651
-56.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.58 $8.58
$3.66 ฿119
134.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.88 $8.88
$13.25 ฿432
-32.98%
Apples (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$3.23 ฿105
61.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.72 $2.72
$1.70 ฿55.3
60.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.30 $1.30
$2.39 ฿78.0
-45.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.10 $4.10
$2.08 ฿67.7
97.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.59 ฿51.8
1.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.48 ฿48.31
-24.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.03 ฿33.54
119.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.52 ฿16.83
278.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.02 $10.02
$4.25 ฿138
135.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.63 $15.63
$18.79 ฿612
-16.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.76 ฿57.2
44.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.76 ฿89.8
14.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Mayaguez
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.36 ฿44.32
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.36 ฿370
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.14 ฿102
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.04 ฿33.74
41.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.13 $15.13
$13.77 ฿448
9.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.34 ฿43.79
-29.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$27.7K ฿901.4K
7.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$33.9K ฿1.1M
-24.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mayaguez
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$271 $271
$124 ฿4,025
119.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$79.3 $79.3
$13.52 ฿440
486.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.5 $64.5
$18.69 ฿609
245.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mayaguez
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.39 $36.39
$61.8 ฿2,013
-41.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.25 ฿562
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.09 $8.09
$9.14 ฿298
-11.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mayaguez
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$468 $468
$703 ฿22.9K
-33.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.3K $10.3K
$15.9K ฿517.0K
-35.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mayaguez
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.20 $45.20
$59.5 ฿1,937
-23.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.4 $57.4
$35.07 ฿1,142
63.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.2 $66.2
$115 ฿3,754
-42.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.0 $69.0
$84.1 ฿2,737
-17.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mayaguez
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$610 $610
$619 ฿20.1K
-1.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$393 $393
$433 ฿14.1K
-9.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,787 $1,787
$2,062 ฿67.2K
-13.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 $633
$1,511 ฿49.2K
-58.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,646 ฿118.7K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,626 ฿85.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mayaguez
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$507 ฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.25
5.33
-39.02%

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

Last update for Mayaguez: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $610 in Mayaguez and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $59.0 in Mayaguez vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $313 vs $293 per month, with Phuket 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
Mayaguez vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Mayaguez?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,297 in Mayaguez and $1,892 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.
What is the rent difference between Mayaguez and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $610 in Mayaguez versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $468 in Mayaguez versus $703 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Mayaguez or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $59.0 in Mayaguez. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mayaguez or Phuket?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,531 in Mayaguez, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mayaguez. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mayaguez or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mayaguez, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mayaguez or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Mayaguez 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Mayaguez. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mayaguez vs other spots: cost of living compared

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