ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,524 in Castello de la Plana, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,185 in Castello de la Plana, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $2,847 in Castello de la Plana, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 19% cheaper than Castello de la Plana, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Castello de la Plana is 14% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$15.26âŽ13.06
-69.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$58.4âŽ50.0
-19.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$8.33âŽ7.13
6.12%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.51âŽ2.15
19.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.24âŽ1.92
-66.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.77âŽ1.52
-79.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$2.94âŽ2.52
-17.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$3.44âŽ2.94
4.94%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.16âŽ0.99
94.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.07âŽ1.77
-11.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.92âŽ1.64
16.67%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$2.97âŽ2.54
-21.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$15.02âŽ12.86
30.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$8.60âŽ7.36
-57.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$15.54âŽ13.30
-15.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.50âŽ2.14
35.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.72âŽ1.47
-4.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.66âŽ1.42
45.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.49âŽ2.13
-18.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.87âŽ1.60
-16.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.79âŽ1.54
-16.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.47âŽ1.26
-30.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.60âŽ0.51
-18.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$7.07âŽ6.05
-37.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$5.16âŽ4.42
265.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.05âŽ0.90
69.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.32âŽ1.98
18.53%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.42âŽ1.22
-1.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$17.68âŽ15.14
-35.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$4.55âŽ3.90
-31.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.00âŽ0.86
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$15.03âŽ12.86
-6.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.74âŽ1.49
-22.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$38.7KâŽ33.1K
-29.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$32.3KâŽ27.6K
1.98%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$135âŽ115
-7.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$19.62âŽ16.80
-30.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$27.25âŽ23.33
-32.04%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$45.69âŽ39.11
34.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$15.29âŽ13.09
10.14%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$8.24âŽ7.05
11.53%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$588âŽ504
18.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$7,999âŽ6,847
94.93%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$64.3âŽ55.0
-10.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$21.67âŽ18.55
62.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$103âŽ88.0
10.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$117âŽ100
-26.09%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$736âŽ630
-16.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$606âŽ519
-26.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,007âŽ862
103.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$792âŽ678
88.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,882âŽ1,611
100.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$1,461âŽ1,251
81.26%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$1,869âŽ1,600
-71.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.2
66.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Castello de la Plana: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $736 in Castello de la Plana. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 257% higher in Castello de la Plana, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $58.0 in Castello de la Plana. Groceries tell a different story â $292 in Phuket vs $271 in Castello de la Plana â so Castello de la Plana 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 Castello de la Plana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Castello de la Plana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,524 in Castello de la Plana â roughly 24% apart. Castello de la Plana costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Castello de la Plana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,286 in Castello de la Plana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Castello de la Plana?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Castello de la Plana?
Public transport costs about 54% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Castello de la Plana?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $588 in Castello de la Plana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Castello de la Plana at $1,524. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castello de la Plana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Castello de la Plana?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $1,524 in Castello de la Plana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Castello de la Plana safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Phuket and Castello de la Plana?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Castello de la Plana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.