Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Concepcion

For one person, living is cheaper in Concepcion: $1,060 a month against $1,190 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $1,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,190
/mo nomad
Concepcion
🇨🇱 Chile
$1,060
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Concepcion

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 Concepcion actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,190 in Phuket versus $1,060 in Concepcion.

  • Phuket $1,190
  • Concepcion $1,060

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,006 in Phuket versus $1,654 in Concepcion.

  • Phuket $2,006
  • Concepcion $1,654

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Phuket versus $2,247 in Concepcion.

  • Phuket $2,822
  • Concepcion $2,247

Living in Phuket is roughly 12% more expensive than in Concepcion, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Concepcion 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Concepcion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35 ฿146
$7.02 CLP 6,844
-38.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.45 ฿1,087
$45.59 CLP 44.5K
-28.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.42 ฿282
$7.64 CLP 7,454
10.21%
Cappuccino
$2.81 ฿94.0
$2.83 CLP 2,760
-0.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.29
$1.43 CLP 1,391
-39.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ฿15.39
$1.05 CLP 1,022
-56.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$3.89 CLP 3,797
-33.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 ฿122
$3.74 CLP 3,650
-2.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Concepcion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 ฿57.2
$1.26 CLP 1,227
35.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.42
$1.51 CLP 1,469
-3.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.3
$1.53 CLP 1,488
1.96%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.3
$3.63 CLP 3,538
-42.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.53 ฿654
$10.94 CLP 10.7K
78.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
$6.65 CLP 6,484
-48.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿373
$11.78 CLP 11.5K
-5.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 ฿94.8
$1.45 CLP 1,413
95.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.3
$1.35 CLP 1,315
20.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 ฿74.5
$1.49 CLP 1,453
48.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.15 ฿71.9
$1.41 CLP 1,370
52.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 ฿49.95
$1.04 CLP 1,013
43.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.40
$1.31 CLP 1,277
1.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.72
$1.12 CLP 1,089
-4.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.01
$1.18 CLP 1,152
-56.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ฿147
$5.09 CLP 4,959
-13.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.77 ฿629
$5.01 CLP 4,881
274.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.3
$0.96 CLP 940
81.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$1.69 CLP 1,645
64.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Concepcion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.17 ฿72.6
$0.55 CLP 539
294.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.28 ฿746
$31.51 CLP 30.7K
-29.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿101
$1.20 CLP 1,169
151.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.43
$2.25 CLP 2,198
-52.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.71 ฿124
$12.28 CLP 12.0K
-69.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.88
$1.37 CLP 1,336
4.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿882.1K
$19.9K CLP 19.4M
32.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K ฿877.3K
$24.7K CLP 24.1M
6.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Concepcion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.7 ฿3,236
$108 CLP 105.2K
-10.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41 ฿382
$13.06 CLP 12.7K
-12.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11 ฿573
$27.55 CLP 26.9K
-37.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Concepcion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 ฿1,768
$29.45 CLP 28.7K
79.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿371
$10.48 CLP 10.2K
5.63%
Cinema Ticket
$7.65 ฿256
$5.74 CLP 5,596
33.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Concepcion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$555 ฿18.6K
$318 CLP 309.6K
74.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿377.7K
$4,329 CLP 4.2M
160.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Concepcion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4 ฿2,123
$45.10 CLP 44.0K
40.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.61 ฿958
$22.28 CLP 21.7K
28.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.7 ฿3,238
$63.8 CLP 62.2K
51.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6 ฿2,967
$64.7 CLP 63.0K
37.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Concepcion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$735 ฿24.6K
$474 CLP 461.9K
55.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$458 ฿15.3K
$346 CLP 337.0K
32.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,102 ฿70.4K
$955 CLP 931.2K
120.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 ฿39.7K
$643 CLP 627.1K
84.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,493 ฿116.9K
$2,137 CLP 2.1M
63.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,491 ฿83.4K
$1,810 CLP 1.8M
37.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Concepcion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.8K
$542 CLP 528.2K
-7.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.3
5.09%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026

Last update for Concepcion: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$458
Concepcion
$346 24.5% $112
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Concepcion
$221 17.7% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Concepcion
$149 18.7% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$125
Concepcion
$88 29.4% $37
Eating Out
Phuket
$119
Concepcion
$150 25.7% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Concepcion
$41 39.9% $27
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Concepcion
$46 17.7% $6.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $735 in Phuket and $474 in Concepcion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Concepcion pays 8% 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 $46.00 in Concepcion. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $221, with Concepcion cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇱 Concepcion
🕒 Local time
21:27 9:27 PM
11:27 11:27 AM
10 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
217,537
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 975 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 1,093 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.15 EUR).

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

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 Concepcion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Concepcion?
Phuket and Concepcion differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($1,190 vs $1,060 including rent). Concepcion 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 8% lower in Concepcion. 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 Concepcion?
Rent for a central apartment: $735 in Phuket versus $474 in Concepcion. 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 21% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Concepcion – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,060 in Concepcion versus $1,190 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Concepcion but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Concepcion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Concepcion?
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 Concepcion safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Concepcion 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 Concepcion?
Expats usually find Concepcion gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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