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 $1,172 per month in Perez Zeledon vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,928 per month in Perez Zeledon vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,685 per month in Perez Zeledon vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Perez Zeledon is about 7% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Perez Zeledon and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Perez Zeledon 12% lower, Phuket 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.13 ₡3,197

$4.48 ฿150

59.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.23 ₡18.0K

$45.59 ฿1,521

-11.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.90 ₡4,438

$8.76 ฿292

13.01%

Cappuccino

$3.77 ₡1,690

$2.97 ฿99.0

26.94%

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

$1.52 ₡680

$0.69 ฿22.90

120.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡714

$0.39 ฿13.04

307.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.01 ₡1,350

$2.53 ฿84.4

18.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.60 ₡2,064

$3.75 ฿125

22.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.01 ₡899

$2.15 ฿71.6

-6.51%

White Bread (500g)

$2.85 ₡1,276

$1.82 ฿60.6

56.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡992

$2.18 ฿72.9

1.38%

Eggs

$2.62 ₡1,176

$2.25 ฿75.0

16.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.21 ₡3,681

$20.00 ฿667

-58.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.16 ₡4,105

$3.63 ฿121

152.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.92 ₡6,242

$13.56 ฿452

2.65%

Apples (1kg)

$4.52 ₡2,025

$3.24 ฿108

39.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 ₡462

$1.64 ฿54.6

-37.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 ₡1,955

$2.33 ฿77.8

87.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 ₡1,546

$2.07 ฿69.1

66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 ₡1,269

$1.55 ฿51.6

82.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.73 ₡1,226

$1.46 ฿48.54

86.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 ₡174

$0.98 ฿32.86

-60.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₡1,322

$0.48 ฿16.09

514.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.01 ₡2,245

$4.35 ฿145

15.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.42 ₡9,604

$18.57 ฿620

15.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₡1,018

$1.86 ฿61.9

22.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 ₡687

$2.65 ฿88.6

-42.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ₡308

$1.42 ฿47.28

-51.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.88 ₡841

$3.17 ฿106

-40.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 ₡831

$1.03 ฿34.41

79.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.76 ₡3,479

$13.89 ฿463

-44.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ₡607

$1.34 ฿44.84

0.75%

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

$37.3K ₡16.7M

$27.8K ฿927.1K

34.40%

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

$32.6K ₡14.6M

$33.4K ฿1.1M

-2.35%

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

$95.2 ₡42.7K

$123 ฿4,105

-22.64%

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

$21.29 ₡9,547

$13.77 ฿459

54.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.7 ₡26.7K

$18.33 ฿611

225.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.43 ₡13.6K

$60.7 ฿2,025

-49.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.89 ₡10.7K

$17.16 ฿573

39.22%

Cinema Ticket

$10.17 ₡4,558

$8.87 ฿296

14.66%

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

$496 ₡222.3K

$688 ฿22.9K

-27.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₡5.7M

$15.8K ฿526.4K

-20.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.4 ₡27.5K

$59.3 ฿1,978

3.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$50.7 ₡22.7K

$34.69 ฿1,157

46.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$128 ₡57.2K

$115 ฿3,843

10.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ₡49.0K

$83.8 ฿2,794

30.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 ₡151.2K

$621 ฿20.7K

-45.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₡117.3K

$446 ฿14.9K

-41.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,516 ₡680.0K

$2,034 ฿67.8K

-25.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$645 ₡289.2K

$1,496 ฿49.9K

-56.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $337 in Perez Zeledon versus $621 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 $40.00 in Perez Zeledon versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $352 in Perez Zeledon vs $291 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 8%, 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 $1,758 per month in Perez Zeledon and $1,896 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 $1,172 in Perez Zeledon and $1,264 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $496 per month in Perez Zeledon and $688 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 $1,172, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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.