ðA single person spends $1,859 per month in Pamplona vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,699 per month in Pamplona vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,539 per month in Pamplona vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
ðPamplona costs about 51% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPamplona sits 39% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Pamplona
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.34âŽ14.84
$4.63āļŋ151
274.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.0âŽ50.5
$46.84āļŋ1,532
25.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.58âŽ9.06
$8.84āļŋ289
19.68%
Cappuccino
$2.37âŽ2.03
$3.00āļŋ98.0
-21.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80âŽ1.54
$0.74āļŋ24.25
143.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28âŽ1.09
$0.37āļŋ11.95
245.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.50âŽ3.00
$2.44āļŋ79.8
43.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45âŽ2.95
$3.61āļŋ118
-4.43%
ð Groceries & Markets
Pamplona
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15âŽ0.98
$2.26āļŋ73.9
-49.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11âŽ0.95
$1.84āļŋ60.1
-39.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40âŽ1.20
$2.24āļŋ73.4
-37.50%
Eggs
$2.65âŽ2.27
$2.32āļŋ75.7
14.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.11âŽ13.79
$19.67āļŋ643
-18.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.86âŽ5.87
$3.65āļŋ119
87.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.62âŽ12.52
$13.10āļŋ428
11.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.46âŽ2.10
$3.39āļŋ111
-27.43%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23âŽ1.91
$1.64āļŋ53.7
35.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75âŽ1.50
$2.41āļŋ79.0
-27.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36âŽ2.02
$2.03āļŋ66.4
16.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57âŽ1.35
$1.56āļŋ50.9
0.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38âŽ1.18
$1.50āļŋ48.94
-8.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99âŽ0.85
$1.02āļŋ33.50
-2.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62âŽ0.53
$0.49āļŋ16.00
26.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.18âŽ5.29
$4.45āļŋ145
38.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79âŽ4.95
$18.88āļŋ617
-69.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25âŽ1.07
$1.78āļŋ58.1
-29.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29âŽ1.96
$2.75āļŋ90.1
-16.73%
ð Getting Around
Pamplona
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71âŽ1.46
$1.40āļŋ45.81
22.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.87âŽ31.56
$11.48āļŋ376
221.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.40âŽ2.91
$3.12āļŋ102
8.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94âŽ0.81
$1.00āļŋ32.67
-6.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.97âŽ20.52
$14.09āļŋ461
70.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.82âŽ1.56
$1.35āļŋ44.19
34.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9KâŽ33.3K
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
43.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KâŽ23.8K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-15.61%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pamplona
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$157âŽ134
$125āļŋ4,087
25.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.02âŽ18.85
$13.57āļŋ444
62.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.27âŽ27.62
$18.52āļŋ606
74.24%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Pamplona
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.58âŽ34.74
$61.5āļŋ2,010
-33.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.09âŽ11.21
$16.84āļŋ551
-22.27%
Cinema Ticket
$9.56âŽ8.19
$9.19āļŋ300
4.03%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Pamplona
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$267âŽ229
$698āļŋ22.8K
-61.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,865âŽ5,021
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
-62.38%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Pamplona
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.4âŽ73.1
$57.8āļŋ1,889
47.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.84âŽ32.39
$35.24āļŋ1,152
7.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.5âŽ71.4
$113āļŋ3,699
-26.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114âŽ97.5
$86.4āļŋ2,825
31.92%
ð Accommodation & Living
Pamplona
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,027âŽ879
$616āļŋ20.1K
66.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$914âŽ782
$446āļŋ14.6K
104.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,541âŽ1,320
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
-24.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,286âŽ1,101
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
-13.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,840âŽ3,287
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
1.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,040âŽ2,602
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
14.76%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Pamplona
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,260âŽ1,935
$524āļŋ17.1K
331.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
5.33
-34.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pamplona: April 25, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $1,027 in Pamplona 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 331% higher in Pamplona, 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 $59.0 in Pamplona versus $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story â $251 in Pamplona vs $292 in Phuket â so Pamplona wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Pamplona vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Pamplona?
Yes â Pamplona is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,789 per month in Pamplona and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Pamplona or Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Pamplona and $47.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Pamplona vs Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,859 in Pamplona and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Pamplona or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Pamplona at $1,859. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pamplona it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pamplona or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Pamplona or 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 â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pamplona makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.