Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cancun Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cancun

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $1,367 in Cancun, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $2,240 in Cancun, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $3,112 in Cancun, rent included.

Phuket is about 9% cheaper than Cancun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Cancun is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$13.37 MX$234

-65.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,550

$54.0 MX$943

-14.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$10.08 MX$176

-12.30%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$3.56 MX$62.3

-14.04%

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

$0.73 ฿24.36

$1.58 MX$27.66

-53.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.37

$0.95 MX$16.68

-57.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.6

$2.97 MX$52.0

-18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$4.59 MX$80.2

-17.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿75.8

$1.44 MX$25.11

56.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.8

$2.50 MX$43.77

-27.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.7

$1.84 MX$32.19

22.28%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.4

$2.61 MX$45.57

-13.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿655

$11.54 MX$202

69.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿122

$8.40 MX$147

-56.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿438

$10.97 MX$192

18.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$3.14 MX$55.0

2.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.3

$1.63 MX$28.58

-0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.0

$3.13 MX$54.7

-23.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.0

$2.08 MX$36.36

-2.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.5

$2.18 MX$38.15

-29.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.4

$2.23 MX$39.02

-32.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.85

$1.08 MX$18.84

-9.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.36

$1.32 MX$23.13

-60.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$4.26 MX$74.4

4.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿615

$10.43 MX$182

75.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.75 MX$30.58

6.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.0

$2.63 MX$46.02

1.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.37

$0.65 MX$11.30

116.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$59.1 MX$1,033

-80.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿104

$4.34 MX$75.8

-28.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.00

$2.58 MX$45.20

-59.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$10.01 MX$175

40.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.02

$1.28 MX$22.34

2.34%

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

$27.8K ฿933.8K

$29.8K MX$520.8K

-6.61%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$23.7K MX$415.1K

39.92%

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

$122 ฿4,110

$115 MX$2,018

6.07%

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

$13.59 ฿456

$22.90 MX$400

-40.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿628

$35.36 MX$618

-47.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,031

$25.30 MX$442

139.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿570

$24.43 MX$427

-30.50%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$5.95 MX$104

52.44%

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

$706 ฿23.7K

$202 MX$3,533

249.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿530.5K

$5,302 MX$92.7K

198.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,965

$54.2 MX$947

8.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,187

$39.72 MX$695

-10.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,876

$82.2 MX$1,437

40.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,811

$108 MX$1,881

-22.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$626 MX$10.9K

-0.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿14.9K

$457 MX$7,998

-2.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.5K

$1,282 MX$22.4K

59.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.1K

$978 MX$17.1K

52.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿116.9K

$1,287 MX$22.5K

170.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.5K

$2,030 MX$35.5K

26.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$803 MX$14.0K

-37.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

11.42

-53.33%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Cancun: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $626 in Cancun. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 61% higher in Cancun, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $54.0 in Cancun. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Phuket vs $281 in Cancun – so Cancun wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Cancun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,250 in Phuket, $1,367 in Cancun – roughly 9% apart. Cancun costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $2,051 in Cancun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $202 in Cancun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Cancun – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Cancun at $1,367. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cancun it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,250 in Phuket to $1,367 in Cancun. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cancun makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.