Cost of Living Comparison Between Perez Zeledon and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Perez Zeledon and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,171 per month in Perez Zeledon vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,927 per month in Perez Zeledon vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,683 per month in Perez Zeledon vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Perez Zeledon is about 5% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Perez Zeledon and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Perez Zeledon 13% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.78 ₡3,088

$4.63 ฿151

46.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.34 ₡17.9K

$46.84 ฿1,523

-16.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.98 ₡4,547

$8.84 ฿287

12.90%

Cappuccino

$3.80 ₡1,732

$3.00 ฿97.4

26.67%

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

$1.45 ₡662

$0.74 ฿24.11

95.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡726

$0.37 ฿11.88

329.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 ₡1,327

$2.44 ฿79.3

19.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 ₡2,158

$3.61 ฿117

31.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₡888

$2.26 ฿73.5

-13.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.76 ₡1,256

$1.84 ฿59.8

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.14 ₡974

$2.24 ฿73.0

-4.46%

Eggs

$2.53 ₡1,150

$2.32 ฿75.3

9.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.19 ₡3,731

$19.67 ฿639

-58.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.01 ₡4,106

$3.65 ฿119

146.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.51 ₡6,155

$13.10 ฿426

3.13%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 ₡2,057

$3.39 ฿110

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ₡471

$1.64 ฿53.4

-37.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 ₡1,913

$2.41 ฿78.5

74.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.42 ₡1,556

$2.03 ฿66.0

68.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.85 ₡1,297

$1.56 ฿50.6

82.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 ₡1,275

$1.50 ฿48.66

86.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 ₡174

$1.02 ฿33.30

-62.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.94 ₡1,339

$0.49 ฿15.91

500.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.09 ₡2,321

$4.45 ฿145

14.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.95 ₡9,999

$18.88 ฿614

16.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₡978

$1.78 ฿57.7

20.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 ₡692

$2.75 ฿89.5

-44.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 ₡335

$1.40 ฿45.54

-47.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿373

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡843

$3.12 ฿101

-40.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 ₡820

$1.00 ฿32.48

80.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.10 ₡3,691

$14.09 ฿458

-42.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 ₡636

$1.35 ฿43.93

3.70%

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

$38.2K ₡17.4M

$27.2K ฿883.7K

40.34%

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

$33.2K ₡15.1M

$32.9K ฿1.1M

0.84%

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

$93.5 ₡42.6K

$125 ฿4,063

-25.17%

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

$21.44 ₡9,768

$13.57 ฿441

58.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.1 ₡26.9K

$18.52 ฿602

218.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.20 ₡13.8K

$61.5 ฿1,999

-50.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.49 ₡10.7K

$16.84 ฿547

39.49%

Cinema Ticket

$9.70 ₡4,421

$9.19 ฿299

5.55%

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

$500 ₡227.7K

$698 ฿22.7K

-28.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.9K ₡5.9M

$15.6K ฿506.9K

-17.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 ₡28.9K

$57.8 ฿1,878

9.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.9 ₡23.2K

$35.24 ฿1,146

44.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡56.9K

$113 ฿3,677

10.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡49.1K

$86.4 ฿2,808

24.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₡153.3K

$616 ฿20.0K

-45.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$263 ₡120.0K

$446 ฿14.5K

-40.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,537 ₡700.3K

$2,048 ฿66.6K

-24.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₡287.8K

$1,492 ฿48.5K

-57.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿122.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

68.86%

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

Last update for Perez Zeledon: April 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in Perez Zeledon 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Perez Zeledon versus $47.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $347 in Perez Zeledon vs $292 in Phuket – so Phuket 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

Perez Zeledon vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,756 per month in Perez Zeledon and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Perez Zeledon, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,171 in Perez Zeledon and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $500 per month in Perez Zeledon and $698 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Perez Zeledon, where all-in costs run around $1,171, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Perez Zeledon it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Perez Zeledon – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Perez Zeledon. 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.