Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and AzuaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Azua
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $908 in Azua.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,262 in Azua.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,616 in Azua.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 39% more expensive than in Azua, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Azua32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$8.44DOP 491
-46.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,521
$49.97DOP 2,904
-8.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$7.24DOP 420
20.99%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$1.33DOP 77.3
123.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.90
$1.03DOP 60.1
-33.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.04
$0.84DOP 48.84
-53.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$2.51DOP 146
0.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$4.94DOP 287
-24.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$1.21DOP 70.1
77.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.6
$1.71DOP 99.6
6.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$1.08DOP 63.0
101.85%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$1.64DOP 95.2
37.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$7.23DOP 420
176.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$6.49DOP 377
-44.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$10.80DOP 628
25.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$3.30DOP 192
-1.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$0.93DOP 54.1
76.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$3.04DOP 176
-23.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$1.94DOP 113
6.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$2.52DOP 146
-38.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.54
$2.33DOP 135
-37.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.86
$1.13DOP 65.8
-13.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.94DOP 54.9
-48.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$5.93DOP 345
-26.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿620
$16.94DOP 984
9.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$2.70DOP 157
-31.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.6
$3.09DOP 179
-14.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Azua
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.28
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$3.32DOP 193
-4.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.41
$2.14DOP 124
-51.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$5.88DOP 342
136.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.84
$1.27DOP 74.0
5.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿927.1K
$26.4KDOP 1.5M
5.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$29.7KDOP 1.7M
12.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,105
$75.7DOP 4,400
62.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$25.29DOP 1,470
-45.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$35.71DOP 2,075
-48.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,025
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿573
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$6.65DOP 387
33.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$273DOP 15.8K
152.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.4K
$7,993DOP 464.4K
97.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$60.2DOP 3,496
-1.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$51.8DOP 3,007
-32.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,843
$96.2DOP 5,592
19.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,794
$115DOP 6,707
-27.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Azua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$206DOP 11.9K
117.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.3K
$3,702DOP 215.1K
-6.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Azua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Azua: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $50.0 in Azua. Groceries flip the comparison at $291 vs $252, 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 $1,896 in Phuket and $1,363 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 15% 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 $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $908 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 living in Phuket or in Azua?
At $908 in Azua versus $1,264 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.