ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,620 in Aranjuez, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,374 in Aranjuez, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $3,128 in Aranjuez, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 24% cheaper than Aranjuez, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Aranjuez is 21% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Aranjuez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$15.34âŽ13.13
-69.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$58.1âŽ49.71
-19.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$12.94âŽ11.08
-31.68%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.58âŽ2.21
16.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.51âŽ2.15
-70.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$2.02âŽ1.73
-81.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$3.56âŽ3.04
-31.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$3.44âŽ2.94
4.94%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Aranjuez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.16âŽ1.00
94.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.35âŽ1.16
36.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.69âŽ1.45
32.54%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$2.87âŽ2.46
-19.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$11.36âŽ9.72
73.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$8.48âŽ7.26
-56.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$14.13âŽ12.09
-7.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.61âŽ2.24
29.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.84âŽ1.58
-10.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.08âŽ1.78
15.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.32âŽ1.99
-12.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.83âŽ1.57
-14.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.91âŽ1.63
-21.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.58âŽ1.35
-35.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.69âŽ0.59
-28.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$6.48âŽ5.55
-31.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$5.80âŽ4.96
225.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.53âŽ1.31
16.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.98âŽ1.70
38.89%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Aranjuez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.69âŽ1.45
-17.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$34.58âŽ29.60
-66.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$3.54âŽ3.03
-11.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.15âŽ0.99
-13.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$24.48âŽ20.95
-42.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.76âŽ1.51
-23.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$28.5KâŽ24.4K
-4.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$27.2KâŽ23.3K
21.05%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Aranjuez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$143âŽ123
-12.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$13.24âŽ11.33
2.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$30.11âŽ25.77
-38.49%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Aranjuez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$48.15âŽ41.22
27.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$14.94âŽ12.79
12.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$10.02âŽ8.58
-8.28%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Aranjuez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$595âŽ509
17.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$11.7KâŽ10.0K
33.18%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Aranjuez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$75.2âŽ64.4
-23.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$22.99âŽ19.68
53.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$70.6âŽ60.5
60.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$94.0âŽ80.5
-8.14%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Aranjuez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$848âŽ726
-27.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$698âŽ597
-36.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,342âŽ1,149
52.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,002âŽ858
48.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$3,898âŽ3,337
-3.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,376âŽ2,034
11.46%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Aranjuez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$1,712âŽ1,465
-69.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.44
54.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Aranjuez: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $848 in Aranjuez. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 227% higher in Aranjuez, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $58.0 in Aranjuez. Groceries tell a different story â $292 in Phuket vs $254 in Aranjuez â so Aranjuez wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Aranjuez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aranjuez cheaper than Phuket?
Yes â Aranjuez is pricier by about 32%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,430 in Aranjuez. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 201% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $595 in Aranjuez. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Aranjuez?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Aranjuez at $1,620. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aranjuez it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Aranjuez more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket â lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Aranjuez?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aranjuez makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.