Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ajijic Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ajijic

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $1,190 in Ajijic, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,926 in Ajijic, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $2,662 in Ajijic, rent included.

Phuket costs about 5% more than Ajijic, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Ajijic are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Ajijic 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$7.75 MX$136

-41.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,554

$34.05 MX$597

35.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿298

$6.93 MX$122

27.56%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$3.26 MX$57.1

-6.13%

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

$0.73 ฿24.42

$1.07 MX$18.79

-31.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.40

$0.81 MX$14.21

-50.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$1.89 MX$33.12

28.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$3.23 MX$56.7

17.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.34 MX$23.56

68.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$2.25 MX$39.50

-19.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.04 MX$18.28

116.35%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.6

$1.97 MX$34.56

14.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$8.05 MX$141

142.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$7.35 MX$129

-50.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$7.02 MX$123

85.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$2.24 MX$39.21

44.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$0.91 MX$15.88

78.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.2

$0.83 MX$14.55

186.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.2

$1.47 MX$25.84

38.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$1.40 MX$24.64

9.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.00 MX$17.60

50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.93

$0.96 MX$16.76

2.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.40

$0.81 MX$14.20

-35.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$4.17 MX$73.1

6.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$9.08 MX$159

101.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.37 MX$24.03

35.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.2

$1.62 MX$28.41

65.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.61 MX$10.78

131.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$1.04 MX$18.19

199.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.08

$1.53 MX$26.86

-32.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿475

$3.14 MX$55.1

349.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.13

$1.31 MX$23.03

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

$27.8K ฿936.0K

$18.7K MX$328.5K

48.53%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$18.4K MX$322.3K

80.78%

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

$122 ฿4,120

$44.83 MX$786

173.12%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$16.23 MX$285

-16.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$25.61 MX$449

-26.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

$23.83 MX$418

153.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

$5.26 MX$92.3

222.81%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$4.34 MX$76.1

108.99%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$181 MX$3,179

289.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.8K

$2,633 MX$46.2K

500.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,970

$42.94 MX$753

36.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,190

$16.18 MX$284

118.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,885

$67.4 MX$1,181

71.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,818

$55.2 MX$968

51.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.1K

$817 MX$14.3K

-23.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$635 MX$11.1K

-29.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.7K

$1,587 MX$27.8K

28.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$1,385 MX$24.3K

7.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

$3,254 MX$57.1K

7.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

$1,758 MX$30.8K

46.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$586 MX$10.3K

-14.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

11.24

-52.58%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ajijic: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $817 in Ajijic. 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 17% higher in Ajijic, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $34.00 in Ajijic. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $205 – making Ajijic 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 Ajijic: 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,784 in Ajijic. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ajijic, 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 $1,250 in Phuket and $1,190 in Ajijic. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $181 in Ajijic. 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 Ajijic, where all-in costs run around $1,190, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Ajijic it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ajijic – 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 Ajijic. 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.