Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ambato Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ambato

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $669 in Ambato, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,002 in Ambato, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,334 in Ambato, rent included.

Phuket costs about 89% more than Ambato, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Ambato are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Ambato 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$3.03 $3.03

55.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$25.06 $25.06

81.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$5.12 $5.12

64.65%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$2.49 $2.49

17.67%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.78 $0.78

-11.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.64 $0.64

-42.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.01 $2.01

19.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$3.60 $3.60

3.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$0.98 $0.98

127.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.02 $1.02

79.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.50 $1.50

44.67%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$1.98 $1.98

11.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$3.05 $3.05

547.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$2.93 $2.93

23.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$4.11 $4.11

229.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$0.97 $0.97

238.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.02 $1.02

57.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.02 $1.02

136.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.01 $1.01

105.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.02 $1.02

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.98 $0.98

51.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.50 $0.50

98.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$1.03 $1.03

-50.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$5.90 $5.90

-25.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$8.93 $8.93

117.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.50 $1.50

18.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$3.04 $3.04

-10.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.31 $0.31

341.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$24.02 $24.02

-52.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.67 $0.67

350.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.99 $0.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$9.62 $9.62

46.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.66 $0.66

106.06%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$30.4K $30.4K

-7.33%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$28.4K $28.4K

15.78%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$39.33 $39.33

209.43%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$13.79 $13.79

-1.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$30.26 $30.26

-39.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$29.61 $29.61

103.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$14.84 $14.84

15.50%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$6.07 $6.07

43.16%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$255 $255

172.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$2,356 $2,356

565.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$49.59 $49.59

20.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$37.10 $37.10

-6.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$88.5 $88.5

29.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$58.9 $58.9

41.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$336 $336

82.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$187 $187

133.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$616 $616

240.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$251 $251

500.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$1,133 $1,133

230.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$883 $883

196.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$668 $668

-23.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-33.38%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ambato: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $336 in Ambato. 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 32% higher in Ambato, 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in Ambato. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $141 – making Ambato 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 Ambato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 89% more than Ambato, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,004 in Ambato. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ambato, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $25.00 in Ambato. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $669 in Ambato. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ambato, where all-in costs run around $669, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Ambato it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ambato costs $669 versus $1,265 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Ambato. 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.