ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,930 in Cesano Maderno, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,964 in Cesano Maderno, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $3,999 in Cesano Maderno, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 36% cheaper than Cesano Maderno, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Cesano Maderno is 44% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Cesano Maderno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$23.59âŽ20.19
-80.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$92.8âŽ79.4
-49.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$14.16âŽ12.12
-37.57%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.99âŽ1.71
50.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$3.29âŽ2.82
-77.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.22âŽ1.04
-69.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$6.88âŽ5.89
-64.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$5.87âŽ5.03
-38.50%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Cesano Maderno
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.85âŽ1.58
22.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.27âŽ1.94
-18.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$3.49âŽ2.99
-35.82%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$4.39âŽ3.76
-47.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$19.41âŽ16.61
1.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$13.04âŽ11.16
-72.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$24.04âŽ20.58
-45.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.67âŽ2.29
26.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.33âŽ1.99
-29.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.49âŽ2.13
-3.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$3.57âŽ3.06
-43.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.05âŽ1.75
-23.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.88âŽ1.61
-20.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.53âŽ1.31
-33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.46âŽ0.40
6.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$6.88âŽ5.89
-35.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$4.52âŽ3.87
317.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.61âŽ1.38
10.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.47âŽ1.26
87.07%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Cesano Maderno
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.70âŽ1.45
-17.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$42.76âŽ36.61
-73.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$5.63âŽ4.82
-44.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$2.19âŽ1.87
-54.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$39.77âŽ34.04
-64.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$2.10âŽ1.80
-35.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$34.2KâŽ29.3K
-20.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$36.3KâŽ31.0K
-9.20%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Cesano Maderno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$247âŽ212
-49.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$11.75âŽ10.06
15.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$34.18âŽ29.26
-45.82%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Cesano Maderno
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$54.9âŽ46.96
12.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$23.34âŽ19.98
-27.85%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$11.46âŽ9.81
-19.81%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Cesano Maderno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$703âŽ602
-0.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$6,774âŽ5,799
130.16%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Cesano Maderno
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$111âŽ94.9
-47.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$54.7âŽ46.81
-35.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$113âŽ97.0
-0.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$168âŽ144
-48.65%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Cesano Maderno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$740âŽ633
-16.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$570âŽ488
-21.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,193âŽ1,021
71.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$928âŽ795
60.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,976âŽ2,547
26.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,148âŽ1,839
23.32%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Cesano Maderno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.25
64.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Cesano Maderno: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $740 in Cesano Maderno. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $93.0 in Cesano Maderno. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $365 â making Phuket 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 Cesano Maderno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Cesano Maderno?
Cesano Maderno costs about 57% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Cesano Maderno?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,895 in Cesano Maderno. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Cesano Maderno?
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 much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Cesano Maderno?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $1,930 in Cesano Maderno. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Cesano Maderno?
Public transport costs about 272% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or Cesano Maderno?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Cesano Maderno at $1,930. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cesano Maderno it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Cesano Maderno?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $1,930 in Cesano Maderno. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Cesano Maderno?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or Cesano Maderno?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cesano Maderno makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.