Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Azua

For one person, living is cheaper in Azua: $660 a month against $1,190 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,190
/mo nomad
Azua
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
$660
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Azua

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Azua actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,190 in Phuket versus $660 in Azua.

  • Phuket $1,190
  • Azua $660

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,006 in Phuket versus $1,060 in Azua.

  • Phuket $2,006
  • Azua $1,060

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Phuket versus $1,460 in Azua.

  • Phuket $2,822
  • Azua $1,460

Living in Phuket is roughly 80% more expensive than in Azua, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Azua 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35 ฿146
$8.61 DOP 524
-49.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.45 ฿1,087
$41.37 DOP 2,518
-21.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.42 ฿282
$7.15 DOP 435
17.76%
Cappuccino
$2.81 ฿94.0
$1.36 DOP 82.5
106.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.29
$0.68 DOP 41.59
27.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ฿15.39
$0.39 DOP 23.53
17.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$2.57 DOP 157
0.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 ฿122
$4.14 DOP 252
-12.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿57.2
$1.20 DOP 73.0
42.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.42
$1.83 DOP 111
-20.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.3
$1.05 DOP 63.8
48.57%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.3
$1.47 DOP 89.3
42.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.53 ฿654
$6.55 DOP 399
198.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
$3.69 DOP 224
-7.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿373
$4.83 DOP 294
130.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 ฿94.8
$3.74 DOP 228
-24.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.3
$1.42 DOP 86.2
14.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 ฿74.5
$3.23 DOP 197
-31.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 ฿71.9
$2.27 DOP 138
-5.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 ฿49.95
$3.68 DOP 224
-59.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.40
$2.93 DOP 178
-54.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.72
$0.96 DOP 58.6
11.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.01
$1.63 DOP 98.9
-68.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ฿147
$4.75 DOP 289
-7.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.77 ฿629
$17.12 DOP 1,042
9.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.3
$2.92 DOP 178
-40.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$3.37 DOP 205
-17.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Azua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.17 ฿72.6
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.28 ฿746
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿101
$2.49 DOP 151
21.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.43
$3.27 DOP 199
-67.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 ฿124
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.88
$1.37 DOP 83.7
4.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿882.1K
$15.0K DOP 915.2K
75.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K ฿877.3K
$25.7K DOP 1.6M
1.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.7 ฿3,236
$94.7 DOP 5,767
2.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41 ฿382
$27.44 DOP 1,670
-58.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11 ฿573
$39.28 DOP 2,391
-56.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 ฿1,768
$20.21 DOP 1,230
161.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿371
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.65 ฿256
$5.07 DOP 309
50.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$555 ฿18.6K
$152 DOP 9,263
264.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿377.7K
$5,570 DOP 339.0K
102.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4 ฿2,123
$26.60 DOP 1,619
138.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.61 ฿958
$45.31 DOP 2,758
-36.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 ฿3,238
$62.8 DOP 3,824
53.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 ฿2,967
$66.8 DOP 4,063
32.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Azua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$735 ฿24.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$458 ฿15.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 ฿70.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 ฿39.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,493 ฿116.9K
$3,576 DOP 217.7K
-2.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,491 ฿83.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11
-49.36%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026

Last update for Azua: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$458
Azua
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Azua
$240 10.4% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Azua
$161 29% $36
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$125
Azua
$91 27.3% $34
Eating Out
Phuket
$119
Azua
$132 10.7% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Azua
$30 55.4% $38
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Azua
$19 * 52% $20

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $41.00 in Azua. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $240, with Azua cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇩🇴 Azua
🕒 Local time
17:06 5:06 PM
06:06 6:06 AM
11 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
128,264
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

DOP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Dominican Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 60.87 DOP (100 DOP = 1.64 USD). 1 EUR = 68.21 DOP (100 DOP = 1.47 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Azua 16,850 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Azua

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, clothing, and leisure. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,785 in Phuket and $990 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 in Azua?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Azua?
All in, you'll spend $1,190 per month in Phuket versus $660 in Azua – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Azua?
At $660 in Azua versus $1,190 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 80% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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