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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,079 in Arica, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,659 in Arica, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $2,239 in Arica, rent included.

Phuket costs about 17% more than Arica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Arica are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Arica 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$8.42 CLP 7,477

-44.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$44.91 CLP 39.9K

1.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$8.10 CLP 7,191

4.07%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$2.72 CLP 2,414

7.72%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$1.30 CLP 1,150

-46.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$1.07 CLP 950

-65.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$3.19 CLP 2,832

-24.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$4.06 CLP 3,605

-8.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.20 CLP 1,065

85.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.49 CLP 1,326

22.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.86 CLP 1,654

16.67%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$3.50 CLP 3,103

-36.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$10.37 CLP 9,201

90.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$6.55 CLP 5,811

-44.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$10.79 CLP 9,574

25.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.80 CLP 1,593

82.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.57 CLP 1,390

2.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.57 CLP 1,394

53.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.50 CLP 1,331

38.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.29 CLP 1,143

18.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.40 CLP 1,246

5.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.23 CLP 1,090

-19.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$1.17 CLP 1,036

-56.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$5.55 CLP 4,923

-20.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$5.27 CLP 4,681

267.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.62 CLP 1,435

9.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$2.30 CLP 2,043

17.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.62 CLP 554

120.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.50 CLP 447

504.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.39 CLP 1,232

-2.16%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$19.4K CLP 17.2M

45.27%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$21.4K CLP 19.0M

53.98%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$132 CLP 117.3K

-7.95%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$13.47 CLP 12.0K

0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$22.22 CLP 19.7K

-17.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$38.02 CLP 33.7K

58.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$21.58 CLP 19.2K

-20.57%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$5.56 CLP 4,934

56.29%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$431 CLP 382.4K

60.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$49.70 CLP 44.1K

19.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$30.13 CLP 26.7K

15.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$56.2 CLP 49.9K

104.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$80.8 CLP 71.7K

3.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$485 CLP 430.4K

26.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$372 CLP 330.2K

17.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$895 CLP 794.1K

134.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$605 CLP 536.6K

149.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$571 CLP 507.1K

-11.07%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Arica: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $485 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 12% 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $45.00 in Arica. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Phuket vs $226 in Arica – so Arica 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 Arica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $1,079 in Arica – roughly 17% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,619 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 $45.00 in Phuket and $45.00 in Arica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $1,079, than in Phuket at $1,265. 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 $1,079 in Arica to $1,265 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.