Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Azua Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Azua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $888 in Azua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,247 in Azua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,606 in Azua.

Living in Phuket is roughly 39% more expensive than Azua, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Azua 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$8.71 DOP 515
-46.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$51.8 DOP 3,059
-9.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$7.25 DOP 429
21.93%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$1.38 DOP 81.3
117.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$1.03 DOP 60.9
-28.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.79 DOP 46.42
-53.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$2.52 DOP 149
-3.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$4.95 DOP 292
-27.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$1.20 DOP 70.8
88.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$1.74 DOP 103
5.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.08 DOP 64.1
107.41%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$1.63 DOP 96.1
42.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$7.16 DOP 423
174.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$6.14 DOP 363
-40.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$10.81 DOP 639
21.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$3.34 DOP 197
1.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$0.85 DOP 50.4
92.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$3.01 DOP 178
-19.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$1.95 DOP 115
4.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$2.55 DOP 151
-38.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$2.36 DOP 139
-36.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$1.12 DOP 66.3
-8.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.95 DOP 55.9
-48.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$5.91 DOP 349
-24.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$11.59 DOP 685
62.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$2.61 DOP 154
-31.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$3.15 DOP 186
-12.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Azua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$3.33 DOP 197
-6.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$2.11 DOP 125
-52.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$5.88 DOP 347
139.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.33 DOP 78.5
1.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$26.9K DOP 1.6M
0.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$29.7K DOP 1.8M
10.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$77.2 DOP 4,563
61.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$25.20 DOP 1,489
-46.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$36.27 DOP 2,143
-48.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$6.83 DOP 403
34.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$267 DOP 15.8K
161.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$8,222 DOP 485.8K
89.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$60.7 DOP 3,587
-4.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$52.7 DOP 3,111
-33.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$95.1 DOP 5,620
18.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$115 DOP 6,776
-24.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Azua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$207 DOP 12.2K
115.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$3,604 DOP 212.9K
4.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
12.9
-58.68%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Azua: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $52.0 in Azua. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $239, with Azua cheaper for home cooking.

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 Azua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Azua cheaper than Phuket?
Azua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $1,332 in Azua to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Azua?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Azua?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $888 in Azua – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Azua?
At $888 in Azua versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Azua but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Azua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Azua more family-friendly?
For families, Azua is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Azua?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Azua 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Azua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities