😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $508 in Cabudare.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $1,057 in Cabudare.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $1,606 in Cabudare.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 148% more expensive than in Cabudare, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Cabudare63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Cabudare
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43฿145
$10.08VES 7,820
-56.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07฿1,151
$50.2VES 39.0K
-30.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.96฿294
$10.11VES 7,840
-11.37%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.4
$1.61VES 1,249
86.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.33
$1.42VES 1,101
-45.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47฿15.44
$1.08VES 839
-56.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40฿78.6
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿123
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cabudare
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82฿59.8
$2.88VES 2,234
-36.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42฿46.65
$2.72VES 2,112
-47.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿50.8
$2.23VES 1,730
-30.49%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$3.42VES 2,656
-37.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.76฿648
$7.14VES 5,538
176.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿114
$7.94VES 6,155
-56.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09฿364
$11.18VES 8,669
-0.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91฿95.5
$4.54VES 3,518
-35.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66฿54.6
$1.76VES 1,366
-5.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿74.5
$0.72VES 558
215.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10฿68.8
$1.02VES 787
105.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.24
$1.03VES 796
42.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41฿46.29
$1.47VES 1,137
-4.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09฿35.78
$0.65VES 503
67.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54฿17.58
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48฿147
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$18.72฿614
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿60.4
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95฿96.7
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Cabudare
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26฿74.1
$0.44VES 339
413.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.07฿757
$40.76VES 31.6K
-43.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04฿99.9
$5.11VES 3,965
-40.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09฿35.82
$2.53VES 1,962
-56.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.82฿125
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿48.79
$0.65VES 502
129.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K฿900.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Cabudare
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,340
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28฿370
$9.97VES 7,734
13.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75฿582
$40.05VES 31.1K
-55.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cabudare
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.2฿1,777
$34.32VES 26.6K
57.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96฿360
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.85฿258
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cabudare
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$577฿18.9K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿381.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cabudare
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4฿2,144
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89฿948
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1฿3,250
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,961
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cabudare
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$756฿24.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487฿16.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085฿68.4K
$442VES 342.7K
371.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,207฿39.6K
$291VES 225.5K
315.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,591฿117.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,610฿85.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cabudare
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$502฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
Last update for Cabudare: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Phuket vs $50.0 in Cabudare. Groceries flip the comparison at $272 vs $223, with Cabudare 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 Cabudare: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Cabudare?
Cabudare wins on cost – living expenses run 148% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cabudare the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Cabudare?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Phuket and $762 in Cabudare 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 dining costs compare in Phuket and in Cabudare?
Dining out is cheaper in Cabudare – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $35.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How expensive is transport in Phuket compared to Cabudare?
A monthly transit pass in Cabudare runs roughly 77% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Cabudare?
At $508 in Cabudare versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cabudare but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Cabudare the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Cabudare?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cabudare delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $508 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cabudare hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Cabudare?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Cabudare 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cabudare gentler on the wallet – expenses run 148% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.