🙂A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,537 in Castello de la Plana, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $2,200 in Castello de la Plana, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $2,863 in Castello de la Plana, rent included.
🙂Phuket is about 20% cheaper than Castello de la Plana, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Phuket sits 10% below the global median, while Castello de la Plana is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$15.24€13.29
-71.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$58.9€51.3
-45.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$7.96€6.94
12.19%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$2.23€1.94
30.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$2.10€1.83
-58.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$1.41€1.23
-65.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$3.37€2.94
-30.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$3.49€3.04
6.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.16€1.01
61.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$1.71€1.49
-14.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$1.74€1.51
-10.92%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$3.18€2.77
-33.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$14.93€13.02
31.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$8.53€7.43
-59.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$15.48€13.50
-26.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$2.63€2.29
13.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$2.03€1.77
-17.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$1.68€1.47
31.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$2.50€2.18
-13.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$1.78€1.55
-14.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$1.91€1.67
-29.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$1.23€1.07
-8.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.63€0.55
-12.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$6.68€5.83
-36.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$5.74€5.01
232.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$1.08€0.94
64.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$2.25€1.96
23.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$1.37€1.19
62.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$18.42€16.06
23.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$3.15€2.75
-3.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$1.42€1.24
-28.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$15.07€13.14
-74.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.74€1.52
-14.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$36.2K€31.5K
-26.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$29.7K€25.9K
-8.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$121€106
-15.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$13.77€12.00
-17.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$25.94€22.62
-32.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$45.75€39.88
13.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$8.72€7.60
-11.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$576€502
-2.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$9,635€8,399
19.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$65.2€56.9
-3.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$22.17€19.33
33.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$96.5€84.1
1.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$109€95.0
-18.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$752€655
-1.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$663€578
-27.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$1,043€909
101.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$873€761
40.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$1,838€1,602
96.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$1,443€1,258
80.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$1,802€1,571
-72.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
2.99
86.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Castello de la Plana: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $752 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.
💰Salaries run about 265% 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket versus $59.0 in Castello de la Plana. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $270 in Castello de la Plana – 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 in Castello de la Plana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,537 in Castello de la Plana – roughly 25% 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 $2,305 in Castello de la Plana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – 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 in Castello de la Plana?
Public transport costs about 23% 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 $561 per month in Phuket and $576 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 $1,537. 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 $1,537 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 – 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.