Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Alcala de Henares Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Alcala de Henares

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,819 in Alcala de Henares.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,673 in Alcala de Henares.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,526 in Alcala de Henares.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 30% less than in Alcala de Henares, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Alcala de Henares is 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alcala de Henares
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$17.18 €14.78
-72.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$69.6 €59.9
-34.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$10.33 €8.89
-18.39%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$2.50 €2.15
17.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$3.23 €2.78
-78.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$2.05 €1.77
-81.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$4.09 €3.51
-41.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$4.61 €3.96
-19.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alcala de Henares
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.25 €1.07
78.40%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$1.05 €0.91
74.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.64 €1.41
32.32%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$2.69 €2.31
-17.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$22.48 €19.34
-12.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$9.21 €7.93
-60.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$17.06 €14.68
-20.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$2.74 €2.36
19.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$2.12 €1.83
-24.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.03 €1.74
18.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$2.65 €2.28
-21.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.81 €1.56
-15.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$2.05 €1.77
-27.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$1.33 €1.15
-25.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.93 €0.80
-45.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$6.48 €5.58
-31.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$8.36 €7.19
131.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.43 €1.23
24.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$2.16 €1.86
25.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alcala de Henares
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$1.94 €1.67
-29.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$47.30 €40.69
-75.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$4.07 €3.50
-25.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$1.37 €1.18
-27.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$23.60 €20.30
-40.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.87 €1.61
-27.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$36.9K €31.7K
-23.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$29.7K €25.6K
10.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alcala de Henares
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$127 €109
-4.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$21.43 €18.43
-36.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$32.20 €27.70
-43.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alcala de Henares
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$42.37 €36.45
42.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$11.54 €9.93
48.53%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$10.35 €8.90
-16.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alcala de Henares
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$264 €227
162.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$7,001 €6,022
124.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alcala de Henares
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$87.4 €75.1
-31.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$37.59 €32.34
-7.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$81.3 €70.0
40.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$86.6 €74.5
-3.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alcala de Henares
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$895 €770
-31.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$809 €696
-46.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$1,870 €1,609
11.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$1,163 €1,000
29.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$4,419 €3,801
-15.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$3,583 €3,082
-27.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alcala de Henares
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$1,819 €1,565
-72.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
3.27
63.00%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Alcala de Henares: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $895 in Alcala de Henares. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alcala de Henares pays 258% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $70.0 in Alcala de Henares for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $307 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

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 Alcala de Henares: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Alcala de Henares?
Phuket and Alcala de Henares differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $1,819 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Alcala de Henares earns 258% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Alcala de Henares?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $895 in Alcala de Henares. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Alcala de Henares?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $264 in Alcala de Henares. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Alcala de Henares. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,819 in Alcala de Henares, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Alcala de Henares. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Alcala de Henares?
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.
Is Phuket or Alcala de Henares safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Alcala de Henares are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Alcala de Henares?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Alcala de Henares. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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