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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $1,062 in Castro, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,639 in Castro, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $2,216 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 6% lower, Castro 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$8.68 CLP 7,799

-47.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$44.16 CLP 39.7K

5.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$7.88 CLP 7,079

7.49%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$2.76 CLP 2,481

9.78%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$1.31 CLP 1,177

-47.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$1.06 CLP 951

-65.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$3.27 CLP 2,938

-23.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.30 CLP 3,863

-14.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.12 CLP 1,007

94.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$1.52 CLP 1,365

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

$1.31 CLP 1,179

67.94%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$4.25 CLP 3,816

-47.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

$10.43 CLP 9,375

91.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$4.36 CLP 3,917

-16.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

$8.74 CLP 7,855

51.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

$1.49 CLP 1,337

116.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

$2.32 CLP 2,081

-26.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

$1.59 CLP 1,431

50.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

$2.04 CLP 1,829

1.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.19 CLP 1,067

33.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

$1.34 CLP 1,207

10.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

$1.27 CLP 1,144

-18.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$1.21 CLP 1,088

-57.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

$5.50 CLP 4,941

-22.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

$8.31 CLP 7,469

126.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

$1.61 CLP 1,446

9.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

$2.23 CLP 2,002

23.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

$0.74 CLP 666

83.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

$0.47 CLP 422

568.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

$1.42 CLP 1,274

-5.63%

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

$19.9K CLP 17.8M

39.39%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$21.5K CLP 19.3M

57.58%

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

$124 ฿4,025

$134 CLP 120.4K

-7.78%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$13.49 CLP 12.1K

0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$22.38 CLP 20.1K

-16.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$37.92 CLP 34.1K

63.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$21.33 CLP 19.2K

-19.13%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$5.74 CLP 5,155

59.23%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

$443 CLP 398.4K

58.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$51.2 CLP 46.0K

16.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$29.77 CLP 26.8K

17.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$62.4 CLP 56.1K

84.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$81.5 CLP 73.3K

3.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$473 CLP 425.1K

30.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$366 CLP 329.1K

18.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$889 CLP 798.5K

132.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$621 CLP 557.8K

143.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$646 CLP 580.3K

-21.48%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Castro: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 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 27% 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $44.00 in Castro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 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 $1,892 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 $1,261 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 $703 per month in Phuket and $443 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 $1,261. 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 $1,261 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.