Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Boquete Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Boquete

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,475 in Boquete.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $2,231 in Boquete.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,987 in Boquete.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 17% less than in Boquete, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Boquete is 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$6.54 PAB 6.54

-32.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,077

$39.94 PAB 39.94

-19.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿298

$7.49 PAB 7.49

19.23%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.6

$3.86 PAB 3.86

-24.87%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ฿29.38

$1.42 PAB 1.42

-38.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.06

$1.21 PAB 1.21

-60.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.5

$2.19 PAB 2.19

7.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$5.08 PAB 5.08

-26.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.3

$1.85 PAB 1.85

1.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.94

$2.05 PAB 2.05

-28.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$2.17 PAB 2.17

-28.57%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.1

$2.51 PAB 2.51

-16.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿654

$9.52 PAB 9.52

105.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$7.48 PAB 7.48

-54.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿380

$15.49 PAB 15.49

-26.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.6

$4.47 PAB 4.47

-33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.2

$1.01 PAB 1.01

66.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$4.52 PAB 4.52

-51.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.1

$2.21 PAB 2.21

-2.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.9

$2.24 PAB 2.24

-32.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.67

$2.18 PAB 2.18

-38.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.67

$2.32 PAB 2.32

-51.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.24

$1.71 PAB 1.71

-67.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$5.14 PAB 5.14

-17.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿637

$7.92 PAB 7.92

141.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.4

$1.21 PAB 1.21

47.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$2.71 PAB 2.71

2.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.4

$1.41 PAB 1.41

58.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿759

$25.18 PAB 25.18

-9.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$0.98 PAB 0.98

209.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.15

$2.01 PAB 2.01

-49.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$30.56 PAB 30.56

-87.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.77

$1.07 PAB 1.07

39.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K ฿887.3K

$25.2K PAB 25.2K

5.35%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.0K ฿902.2K

$22.2K PAB 22.2K

22.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$102 ฿3,420

$57.4 PAB 57.4

78.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.33 ฿378

$26.40 PAB 26.40

-57.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿581

$42.51 PAB 42.51

-59.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,738

$80.7 PAB 80.7

-35.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿370

$17.24 PAB 17.24

-35.79%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿257

$6.33 PAB 6.33

21.48%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$561 ฿18.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿384.1K

$6,020 PAB 6,020

91.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,104

$25.41 PAB 25.41

148.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿986

$25.16 PAB 25.16

17.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,272

$45.09 PAB 45.09

117.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,954

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$810 PAB 810

-8.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$695 PAB 695

-30.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.3K

$1,552 PAB 1,552

35.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.9K

$1,315 PAB 1,315

-6.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.7K

$1,167 PAB 1,167

209.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.9K

$1,142 PAB 1,142

127.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$809 PAB 809

-38.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.5

-14.31%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Boquete: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $810 in Boquete. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Boquete pays 64% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $40.00 in Boquete for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $296 per month, with Phuket 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 Boquete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 64% lower in Boquete. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $810 in Boquete. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Boquete. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $1,475 in Boquete – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,475 in Boquete, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Boquete. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Boquete, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Boquete are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Boquete. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.