Cost of Living Comparison Between Minas and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Minas and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,025 per month in Minas vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,637 per month in Minas vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,248 per month in Minas vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Minas is about 19% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Minas and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Minas 23% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$16.09 UYU 648

$4.70 ฿154

242.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.7 UYU 2,201

$45.37 ฿1,489

20.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.17 UYU 490

$8.43 ฿277

44.37%

Cappuccino

$4.11 UYU 165

$2.93 ฿96.1

40.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 UYU 88.4

$0.69 ฿22.50

218.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 UYU 70.5

$0.37 ฿12.04

372.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.28 UYU 172

$2.41 ฿79.0

77.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 UYU 146

$3.72 ฿122

-2.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 UYU 50.1

$2.23 ฿73.3

-43.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 UYU 115

$1.83 ฿60.1

55.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 UYU 64.2

$2.17 ฿71.1

-26.73%

Eggs

$4.81 UYU 193

$2.21 ฿72.6

117.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.58 UYU 547

$19.74 ฿648

-31.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.97 UYU 442

$3.63 ฿119

202.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.19 UYU 450

$13.53 ฿444

-17.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 UYU 124

$3.28 ฿108

-6.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 UYU 95.6

$1.61 ฿52.9

47.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 UYU 63.3

$2.41 ฿79.0

-34.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.66 UYU 148

$2.08 ฿68.4

75.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 UYU 84.1

$1.53 ฿50.2

36.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 UYU 76.4

$1.48 ฿48.58

28.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 UYU 53.5

$0.99 ฿32.44

34.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 UYU 69.3

$0.51 ฿16.74

237.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.23 UYU 211

$4.41 ฿145

18.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.96 UYU 401

$19.38 ฿636

-48.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 UYU 92.6

$1.78 ฿58.4

29.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 UYU 118

$2.71 ฿89.0

8.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.99

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿374

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 UYU 62.6

$3.02 ฿99.1

-48.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.46 UYU 139

$0.99 ฿32.63

249.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.36 UYU 498

$14.10 ฿463

-12.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.82 UYU 73.4

$1.36 ฿44.71

33.82%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.8K UYU 1.4M

$28.2K ฿925.3K

23.38%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.7K UYU 1.5M

$32.9K ฿1.1M

11.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$169 UYU 6,820

$122 ฿3,993

39.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.49 UYU 664

$13.57 ฿445

21.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.76 UYU 2,003

$18.31 ฿601

171.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,976

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$10.56 UYU 425

$8.69 ฿285

21.52%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$487 UYU 19.6K

$693 ฿22.8K

-29.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,082 UYU 365.6K

$15.7K ฿514.7K

-42.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.8 UYU 3,734

$59.5 ฿1,953

55.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.58 UYU 1,915

$34.77 ฿1,141

36.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 UYU 4,668

$115 ฿3,760

1.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 UYU 4,876

$83.3 ฿2,733

45.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿123.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.68

5.33

6.57%

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

Last update for Minas: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Minas versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $323 vs $293 – 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

Minas vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,025 in Minas, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 23% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,538 per month in Minas and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,025 in Minas and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $487 per month in Minas and $693 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Minas, where all-in costs run around $1,025, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Minas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,025 in Minas to $1,265 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Minas. 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.