😐A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $796 in Chiclayo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,338 in Chiclayo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,880 in Chiclayo, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 55% more than Chiclayo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Phuket and Chiclayo are more affordable than the global median – Phuket10% lower, Chiclayo42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Chiclayo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$5.35PEN 17.96
-17.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$36.27PEN 122
-11.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$9.02PEN 30.26
-1.00%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$4.43PEN 14.85
-34.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$0.92PEN 3.08
-4.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$0.44PEN 1.46
9.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$9.16PEN 30.73
-74.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Chiclayo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$2.01PEN 6.74
-6.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$2.65PEN 8.89
-44.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$2.66PEN 8.92
-41.73%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$1.82PEN 6.12
15.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$9.67PEN 32.46
102.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$9.70PEN 32.54
-64.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$7.80PEN 26.17
45.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$1.95PEN 6.55
-13.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$1.95PEN 6.56
10.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$1.33PEN 4.45
14.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$2.02PEN 6.77
-33.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$0.87PEN 2.93
29.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.93PEN 3.11
-40.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$4.49PEN 15.08
-5.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$15.05PEN 50.5
26.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$1.46PEN 4.88
21.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$1.21PEN 4.05
129.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Chiclayo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$0.53PEN 1.76
320.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$29.84PEN 100
-23.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$4.36PEN 14.64
-30.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$5.89PEN 19.78
-33.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.35PEN 4.55
10.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$25.2KPEN 84.7K
5.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$25.0KPEN 83.7K
8.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Chiclayo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$50.5PEN 170
102.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$45.51PEN 153
-75.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$23.43PEN 78.6
-25.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Chiclayo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$45.29PEN 152
14.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$35.50PEN 119
-68.82%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$7.63PEN 25.59
0.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Chiclayo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$351PEN 1,179
59.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$5,231PEN 17.6K
119.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Chiclayo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Chiclayo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$177PEN 594
317.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$148PEN 496
226.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$443PEN 1,486
375.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$422PEN 1,417
190.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$1,116PEN 3,744
224.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$1,107PEN 3,714
135.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Chiclayo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$474PEN 1,591
4.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
10
-44.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Chiclayo: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $177 in Chiclayo. 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 4% higher in Phuket, 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 $36.00 in Chiclayo. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $249 in Chiclayo – so Chiclayo 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 Chiclayo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Chiclayo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $796 in Chiclayo – roughly 55% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Chiclayo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,195 in Chiclayo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Chiclayo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiclayo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $36.00 in Chiclayo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Chiclayo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $796 in Chiclayo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiclayo, where all-in costs run around $796, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Chiclayo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Chiclayo?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $796 in Chiclayo to $1,232 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Chiclayo 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 Chiclayo?
If budget matters most, go with Chiclayo. 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.