😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $491 in Ayacucho.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $793 in Ayacucho.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $1,095 in Ayacucho.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 155% more expensive than in Ayacucho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket9% lower, Ayacucho64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$1.76PEN 5.90
159.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,072
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$1.76PEN 5.89
59.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.93
$0.86PEN 2.89
2.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$0.31PEN 1.05
58.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$1.50PEN 5.04
59.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$4.39PEN 14.72
-15.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.7
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.38
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$0.61PEN 2.06
159.02%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$1.73PEN 5.81
23.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$2.92PEN 9.78
582.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$4.41PEN 14.78
-22.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$5.91PEN 19.80
91.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿96.9
$1.22PEN 4.08
141.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$0.61PEN 2.05
181.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.4
$0.60PEN 2.02
286.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$0.56PEN 1.88
271.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.33
$0.29PEN 0.97
406.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.64
$0.31PEN 1.04
338.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.12
$0.31PEN 1.06
254.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$0.85PEN 2.86
-32.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿605
$5.77PEN 19.36
219.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
$2.98PEN 10.01
-37.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.0
$4.45PEN 14.91
-34.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿72.9
$0.60PEN 2.02
270.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
$36.11PEN 121
-36.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$2.32PEN 7.80
30.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.31
$1.21PEN 4.06
-11.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$4.58PEN 15.35
-14.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.04
$1.79PEN 6.01
-16.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿891.7K
$10.5KPEN 35.1K
159.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.3K
$12.6KPEN 42.1K
118.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,379
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$11.94PEN 40.05
-7.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$17.97PEN 60.3
-2.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$15.11PEN 50.7
254.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
$30.03PEN 101
-62.70%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$4.35PEN 14.57
71.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$73.7PEN 247
655.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,106
$17.68PEN 59.3
262.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$26.24PEN 88.0
10.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,154
$103PEN 344
-6.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$105PEN 354
-14.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$353PEN 1,184
106.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$89.4PEN 300
459.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
$880PEN 2,951
137.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.7K
$234PEN 784
417.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
$1,981PEN 6,644
81.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
$1,755PEN 5,885
43.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.5K
$490PEN 1,643
2.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ayacucho: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $353 in Ayacucho. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 3% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
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 Ayacucho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Ayacucho?
Ayacucho wins on cost – living expenses run 155% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ayacucho the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Ayacucho?
Average pay runs 3% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Ayacucho?
Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Phuket versus $353 in Ayacucho. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Ayacucho?
Childcare runs $557 in Phuket versus $73.7 in Ayacucho. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Ayacucho?
A monthly transit pass in Ayacucho runs roughly 58% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Ayacucho?
At $491 in Ayacucho versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ayacucho but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ayacucho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Ayacucho?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ayacucho delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $491 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ayacucho hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Ayacucho?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Ayacucho are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ayacucho gentler on the wallet – expenses run 155% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.