Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Barakaldo

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,633 in Barakaldo, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Barakaldo, Spain
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Barakaldo
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,633
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Barakaldo

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 Barakaldo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $1,633 in Barakaldo.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Barakaldo $1,633

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $2,448 in Barakaldo.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Barakaldo $2,448

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $3,264 in Barakaldo.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Barakaldo $3,264

Living in Phuket costs roughly 22% less than in Barakaldo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Barakaldo is 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Barakaldo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$17.13 €15.34
-73.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,093
$67.6 €60.6
-52.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$12.39 €11.09
-28.89%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.4
$2.63 €2.35
7.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.41
$3.04 €2.72
-71.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.65
$2.05 €1.83
-76.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.3
$3.35 €3.00
-23.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$3.26 €2.92
12.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Barakaldo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿55.9
$1.23 €1.10
34.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.31
$1.65 €1.48
-11.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.40 €1.25
7.14%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$3.36 €3.01
-37.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿643
$12.37 €11.08
54.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$7.86 €7.04
-58.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$14.26 €12.77
-23.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿98.9
$2.91 €2.61
0.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.0
$1.46 €1.31
15.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$2.57 €2.30
-12.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.0
$2.53 €2.26
-17.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.62 €1.45
-6.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.52
$2.21 €1.98
-37.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.96
$1.28 €1.15
-16.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.51
$0.86 €0.77
-39.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$6.72 €6.02
-37.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$7.98 €7.15
135.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.39 €1.25
30.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.8
$1.79 €1.60
58.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Barakaldo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.98
$1.67 €1.50
-13.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,912
$32.61 €29.20
73.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$5.61 €5.02
-46.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.33
$1.03 €0.92
-0.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$29.32 €26.26
-87.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.76
$1.80 €1.61
-18.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿903.4K
$32.9K €29.5K
-18.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿900.5K
$29.4K €26.3K
-9.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Barakaldo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,251
$143 €128
-32.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$18.23 €16.33
-38.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿568
$22.63 €20.26
-25.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Barakaldo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,268
$44.92 €40.23
49.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$15.89 €14.23
-32.47%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$9.94 €8.90
-24.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Barakaldo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$483 €433
-1.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.0K
$10.1K €9,038
11.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Barakaldo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,104
$96.4 €86.3
-35.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿958
$32.25 €28.88
-11.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,181
$74.6 €66.8
26.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,895
$120 €107
-28.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Barakaldo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$896 €802
-20.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$675 €605
-27.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.0K
$1,359 €1,217
41.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$1,024 €917
39.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿140.9K
$3,327 €2,979
25.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.7K
$2,222 €1,990
37.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Barakaldo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.9K
$1,779 €1,593
-71.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
2.98
86.91%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Barakaldo: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Barakaldo
$675 37.5% $184
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Barakaldo
$265 0.7% $1.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Barakaldo
$184 47.5% $59
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Barakaldo
$145 19.4% $24
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Barakaldo
$249 105% $128
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Barakaldo
$65 21.2% $17
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Barakaldo
$50 29.1% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $896 in Barakaldo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Barakaldo pays about 3.5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $68 in Barakaldo. Groceries flip the comparison at $266 vs $265, with Barakaldo cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇪🇸 Barakaldo
🕒 Local time
23:31 11:31 PM
17:31 5:31 PM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
101,229
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Barakaldo 10,310 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Barakaldo

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 Barakaldo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Barakaldo?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $1,633 in Barakaldo, so Phuket is about 22% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 72% lower in Phuket. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Barakaldo?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $896 in Barakaldo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Barakaldo?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $483 in Barakaldo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32 versus $68 in Barakaldo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $1,633 in Barakaldo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Barakaldo. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Barakaldo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How do I decide between Phuket and Barakaldo?
It comes down to priorities – Phuket wins on affordability, Barakaldo on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?