Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Arica Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Arica

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $1,100 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,669 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $2,237 in Arica, rent included.

Phuket costs about 14% more than Arica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Arica are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Arica 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$8.43 CLP 7,851

-46.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,554

$44.30 CLP 41.3K

4.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿298

$8.20 CLP 7,635

7.80%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$2.71 CLP 2,521

12.92%

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

$0.73 ฿24.42

$1.30 CLP 1,210

-43.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.40

$1.06 CLP 989

-62.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$3.29 CLP 3,065

-26.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$4.28 CLP 3,986

-11.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.19 CLP 1,104

89.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$1.50 CLP 1,401

20.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.85 CLP 1,723

21.62%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.6

$3.50 CLP 3,260

-35.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$10.31 CLP 9,599

89.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$6.73 CLP 6,270

-45.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$10.79 CLP 10.0K

20.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.89 CLP 1,759

70.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.57 CLP 1,465

3.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.2

$1.60 CLP 1,492

48.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.2

$1.50 CLP 1,394

35.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$1.24 CLP 1,158

23.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.36 CLP 1,269

10.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.93

$1.22 CLP 1,136

-19.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.40

$1.23 CLP 1,146

-57.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$5.27 CLP 4,904

-15.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$6.39 CLP 5,946

186.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.54 CLP 1,431

20.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.2

$2.32 CLP 2,161

15.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.49

$0.58 CLP 537

143.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$0.51 CLP 471

509.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.08

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿475

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.13

$1.38 CLP 1,286

-5.07%

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

$27.8K ฿936.0K

$19.7K CLP 18.4M

40.99%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$21.5K CLP 20.0M

54.77%

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

$122 ฿4,120

$134 CLP 125.1K

-8.85%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$13.49 CLP 12.6K

0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$22.09 CLP 20.6K

-15.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

$38.36 CLP 35.7K

57.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

$21.43 CLP 20.0K

-20.77%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$5.81 CLP 5,410

56.11%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$435 CLP 404.7K

62.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,970

$50.6 CLP 47.1K

15.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,190

$30.88 CLP 28.8K

14.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,885

$56.2 CLP 52.3K

105.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,818

$83.9 CLP 78.2K

-0.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.1K

$481 CLP 448.4K

29.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

$366 CLP 340.9K

21.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.7K

$875 CLP 815.2K

133.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$582 CLP 542.4K

156.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$537 CLP 499.7K

-6.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

5.18

2.90%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Arica: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $481 in Arica. 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 7% higher in Arica, 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 $44.00 in Arica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $229 – making Arica 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 Arica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,250 in Phuket, $1,100 in Arica – roughly 14% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,651 in Arica. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Arica, 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 $46.00 in Phuket and $44.00 in Arica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 26% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Arica, where all-in costs run around $1,100, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Arica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket 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 $1,100 in Arica to $1,250 in Phuket. 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 Arica. 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.