Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Chillan

For one person, living is cheaper in Chillan: $876 a month against $1,207 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Chillan
🇨🇱 Chile
$876
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Chillan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Chillan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $876 in Chillan.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Chillan $876

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $1,321 in Chillan.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Chillan $1,321

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $1,766 in Chillan.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Chillan $1,766

Living in Phuket is roughly 38% more expensive than in Chillan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Chillan 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Chillan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$5.24 CLP 5,162
-12.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$46.84 CLP 46.1K
-30.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$5.85 CLP 5,761
46.15%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$3.65 CLP 3,592
-25.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$0.92 CLP 909
2.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$0.99 CLP 970
-50.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$3.52 CLP 3,467
-26.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$4.55 CLP 4,477
-15.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Chillan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$1.06 CLP 1,043
64.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$1.62 CLP 1,593
-11.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$1.83 CLP 1,804
-16.39%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$3.70 CLP 3,640
-41.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$7.08 CLP 6,974
170.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$2.51 CLP 2,473
31.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$8.12 CLP 7,998
37.19%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$1.48 CLP 1,454
99.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.64 CLP 1,616
2.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$1.25 CLP 1,234
84.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$1.03 CLP 1,018
106.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$1.44 CLP 1,415
6.25%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$1.26 CLP 1,236
7.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$1.03 CLP 1,009
8.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$1.19 CLP 1,176
-53.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$4.58 CLP 4,507
-6.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$3.37 CLP 3,320
439.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$1.25 CLP 1,234
39.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$2.03 CLP 1,996
37.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Chillan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$0.58 CLP 571
282.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
$36.06 CLP 35.5K
-38.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$0.60 CLP 590
385.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$1.15 CLP 1,133
-12.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$12.29 CLP 12.1K
-68.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$1.34 CLP 1,316
11.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$11.9K CLP 11.7M
124.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$14.7K CLP 14.5M
81.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Chillan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$127 CLP 125.4K
-22.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$10.30 CLP 10.1K
9.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$23.07 CLP 22.7K
-24.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Chillan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$15.49 CLP 15.3K
237.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
$16.60 CLP 16.3K
-34.64%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$11.08 CLP 10.9K
-31.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Chillan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Chillan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$35.58 CLP 35.0K
76.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$18.16 CLP 17.9K
57.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$48.07 CLP 47.3K
100.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$64.8 CLP 63.7K
35.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Chillan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$302 CLP 297.5K
141.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$243 CLP 239.7K
88.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$445 CLP 437.9K
371.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$330 CLP 324.8K
270.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$2,415 CLP 2.4M
43.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$2,414 CLP 2.4M
3.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Chillan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$664 CLP 653.6K
-25.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Chillan: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Chillan
$243 47.1% $217
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Chillan
$177 33.9% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Chillan
$161 25.6% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Chillan
$75 39.6% $49
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Chillan
$138 13.5% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Chillan
$38 44.2% $30
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Chillan
$45 15% $5.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $302 in Chillan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Chillan pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $47.00 in Chillan. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $177, with Chillan cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇱 Chillan
🕒 Local time
06:49 6:49 AM
20:49 8:49 PM
10 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
164,270
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,107 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.04 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Chillan 16,680 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Chillan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Chillan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Chillan?
Phuket and Chillan differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($1,207 vs $876 including rent). Chillan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Chillan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Chillan?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $302 in Chillan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Chillan?
All in, you'll spend $1,207 per month in Phuket versus $876 in Chillan – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $876 in Chillan versus $1,207 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Chillan but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Chillan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Chillan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Chillan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Chillan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Chillan?
Expats usually find Chillan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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