Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ahuachapan Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ahuachapan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,751 in Ahuachapan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,900 in Ahuachapan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $2,049 in Ahuachapan, rent included.

Phuket is about 28% cheaper than Ahuachapan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Ahuachapan is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$8.17 $8.17

-42.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$35.40 $35.40

28.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$6.92 $6.92

21.82%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$3.28 $3.28

-10.67%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$1.09 $1.09

-36.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.92 $0.92

-59.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.03 $2.03

18.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.98 $2.98

24.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.85 $1.85

20.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.98 $1.98

-7.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.56 $1.56

39.10%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.80 $2.80

-21.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$7.16 $7.16

175.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$6.73 $6.73

-46.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$11.06 $11.06

22.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$3.22 $3.22

1.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.67 $1.67

-3.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.52 $2.52

-4.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$2.73 $2.73

-23.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$2.14 $2.14

-28.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$2.11 $2.11

-29.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.00 $1.00

-1.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$1.08 $1.08

-52.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$3.90 $3.90

13.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$11.15 $11.15

73.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.74 $1.74

2.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$2.40 $2.40

12.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$5.53 $5.53

-45.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$3.12 $3.12

-68.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$19.95 $19.95

-29.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.99 $0.99

37.37%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$25.2K $25.2K

11.97%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$27.8K $27.8K

18.51%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$101 $101

20.13%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$18.94 $18.94

-28.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$41.26 $41.26

-55.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$5.26 $5.26

65.21%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$146 $146

376.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$5,884 $5,884

166.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$66.5 $66.5

-10.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$43.79 $43.79

-20.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$116 $116

-1.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$104 $104

-20.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$524 $524

17.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$1,007 $1,007

-56.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$373 $373

461.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$397 $397

280.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$3,110 $3,110

20.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$1,310 $1,310

99.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$566 $566

-10.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

8.58

-37.88%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ahuachapan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $524 in Ahuachapan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Ahuachapan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $35.00 in Ahuachapan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $257 – making Ahuachapan 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

Phuket vs Ahuachapan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $1,751 in Ahuachapan – roughly 38% apart. Ahuachapan costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $2,626 in Ahuachapan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $1,751 in Ahuachapan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $146 in Ahuachapan. 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 Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Ahuachapan at $1,751. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ahuachapan 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 $1,265 in Phuket to $1,751 in Ahuachapan. 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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ahuachapan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.