😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $110 in Ayacucho.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $191 in Ayacucho.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $272 in Ayacucho.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 1055% more expensive than Ayacucho, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Ayacucho92% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$1.64PEN 5.57
186.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$13.75PEN 46.77
229.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$4.07PEN 13.84
107.13%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$2.25PEN 7.66
30.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$0.80PEN 2.71
-13.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$0.29PEN 1.00
27.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$1.89PEN 6.42
27.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.25PEN 7.66
65.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
-
-
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$5.80PEN 19.73
234.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$24.55PEN 83.5
145.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
$1,944PEN 6,615
92.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
$1,747PEN 5,942
49.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ayacucho
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$492PEN 1,675
3.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ayacucho: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰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.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $14.00 in Ayacucho for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $12.00 per month, with Ayacucho cheaper across the board.
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 1055% 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 Ayacucho?
Phuket pays 3% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Ayacucho?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $110 in Ayacucho – a 1055% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Ayacucho?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2425% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Ayacucho?
At $110 in Ayacucho versus $1,265 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 $110 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 1055% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.