Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Castro Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Castro

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $1,062 in Castro, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,654 in Castro, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $2,247 in Castro, rent included.

Phuket costs about 19% more than Castro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Castro are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Castro 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$8.53 CLP 7,935

-47.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$44.60 CLP 41.5K

2.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$7.87 CLP 7,319

11.31%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$2.81 CLP 2,616

5.69%

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

$0.69 ฿22.90

$1.36 CLP 1,270

-49.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$1.02 CLP 947

-61.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$3.28 CLP 3,050

-22.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$4.23 CLP 3,934

-11.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.13 CLP 1,054

90.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

$1.51 CLP 1,400

20.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

$1.39 CLP 1,292

56.83%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$4.33 CLP 4,029

-48.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

$10.35 CLP 9,631

93.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$4.25 CLP 3,959

-14.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

$8.66 CLP 8,060

56.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

$1.43 CLP 1,328

126.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

$2.39 CLP 2,227

-31.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

$1.65 CLP 1,536

41.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$2.08 CLP 1,932

-0.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

$1.22 CLP 1,136

27.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

$1.37 CLP 1,271

6.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

$1.25 CLP 1,166

-21.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$1.22 CLP 1,140

-60.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

$5.46 CLP 5,080

-20.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

$8.02 CLP 7,460

131.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

$1.62 CLP 1,503

14.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

$2.22 CLP 2,069

19.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$0.75 CLP 694

89.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$0.48 CLP 445

560.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$1.38 CLP 1,284

-2.90%

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

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$19.3K CLP 18.0M

43.71%

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

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$21.3K CLP 19.8M

56.75%

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

$123 ฿4,105

$129 CLP 120.4K

-4.91%

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

$13.77 ฿459

$13.50 CLP 12.6K

2.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

$21.55 CLP 20.1K

-14.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

$38.90 CLP 36.2K

56.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

$21.11 CLP 19.6K

-18.71%

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

$5.76 CLP 5,363

53.99%

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

$688 ฿22.9K

$441 CLP 410.0K

56.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

$50.5 CLP 47.0K

17.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

$30.40 CLP 28.3K

14.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

$62.1 CLP 57.8K

85.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

$83.8 CLP 78.0K

-0.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

$473 CLP 440.5K

31.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$367 CLP 341.3K

21.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

$898 CLP 835.7K

126.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

$615 CLP 572.5K

143.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

$643 CLP 598.2K

-23.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

5.18

2.90%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Castro: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $473 in Castro. 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 30% higher in Castro, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $45.00 in Castro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $221 – making Castro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Castro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket costs about 19% more than Castro, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $1,593 in Castro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,264 in Phuket and $1,062 in Castro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $688 per month in Phuket and $441 in Castro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Castro, where all-in costs run around $1,062, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Castro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Castro costs $1,062 versus $1,264 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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