Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Aguada Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Aguada

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,170 in Aguada.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,226 in Aguada.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,283 in Aguada.

Living in Phuket is roughly 5% more expensive than in Aguada, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Aguada 14% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$10.78 $10.78

-59.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$12.18 $12.18

-26.68%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$2.03 $2.03

42.86%

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

$0.88 ฿29.38

$2.06 $2.06

-57.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$1.03 $1.03

-53.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$1.48 $1.48

58.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$3.03 $3.03

22.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.70 $1.70

10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$2.51 $2.51

-41.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$4.27 $4.27

-50.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$0.87 $0.87

71.26%

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

$26.6K ฿887.3K

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

$27.0K ฿902.2K

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

$102 ฿3,420

$259 $259

-60.40%

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

$11.33 ฿378

$60.4 $60.4

-81.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$55.9 $55.9

-6.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$6.14 $6.14

25.24%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$498 $498

12.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$35.58 $35.58

77.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$40.54 $40.54

-27.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$81.4 $81.4

20.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

$100 $100

-11.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$497 $497

48.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$444 $444

8.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$2,162 $2,162

-77.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Aguada: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $497 in Aguada. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Aguada pays 338% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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

Phuket vs Aguada: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Aguada differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $1,170 including rent). Aguada is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 338% lower in Aguada. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $497 in Aguada. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $498 in Aguada. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $1,170 in Aguada – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,170 in Aguada versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Aguada but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Aguada the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Aguada are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Aguada gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.