Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Coquimbo Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Coquimbo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,243 in Phuket versus $567 in Coquimbo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Phuket versus $936 in Coquimbo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Phuket versus $1,305 in Coquimbo.

Living in Phuket is roughly 119% more expensive than in Coquimbo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Coquimbo 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.37 ฿147

$6.81 CLP 6,742

-35.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.87 ฿1,103

$45.62 CLP 45.2K

-27.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.39 ฿282

$6.28 CLP 6,215

33.60%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ฿91.8

$3.66 CLP 3,617

-25.41%

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

$0.88 ฿29.59

$1.17 CLP 1,158

-24.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.92

$1.06 CLP 1,048

-55.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.1

$4.04 CLP 3,995

-41.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

$4.73 CLP 4,685

-21.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ฿61.5

$1.05 CLP 1,044

74.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ฿48.58

$3.19 CLP 3,157

-54.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$1.26 CLP 1,245

25.40%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.4

$2.68 CLP 2,649

-21.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.37 ฿650

$8.35 CLP 8,260

131.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿115

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.96 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 ฿101

$1.37 CLP 1,353

118.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.9

$1.91 CLP 1,892

-14.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿74.1

$1.05 CLP 1,038

110.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 ฿71.2

$0.96 CLP 948

120.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿49.34

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ฿44.37

$1.27 CLP 1,257

3.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.93

$0.60 CLP 593

78.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.61

$1.35 CLP 1,337

-61.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿147

$5.05 CLP 5,002

-13.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.59 ฿624

$8.45 CLP 8,363

120.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 ฿58.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 ฿95.8

$4.73 CLP 4,681

-39.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$0.86 CLP 851

162.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.98 ฿771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 ฿98.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.96

$1.43 CLP 1,412

2.10%

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

$27.2K ฿912.2K

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

$26.6K ฿893.5K

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

$102 ฿3,420

$105 CLP 103.6K

-2.64%

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

$10.96 ฿368

$12.18 CLP 12.1K

-10.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.89 ฿567

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ฿1,758

$26.14 CLP 25.9K

100.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.93 ฿367

$5.10 CLP 5,047

114.31%

Cinema Ticket

$7.52 ฿252

$4.02 CLP 3,979

87.06%

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

$547 ฿18.3K

$255 CLP 252.2K

114.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿379.5K

$29.4K CLP 29.1M

-61.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 ฿2,122

$45.59 CLP 45.1K

38.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 ฿981

$25.39 CLP 25.1K

15.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 ฿3,282

$61.4 CLP 60.8K

59.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.7 ฿2,909

$81.1 CLP 80.3K

6.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$721 ฿24.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 ฿16.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,081 ฿69.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,194 ฿40.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,577 ฿120.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,541 ฿85.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$489 ฿16.4K

$617 CLP 610.4K

-20.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.40%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 28, 2026

Last update for Coquimbo: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Coquimbo pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $46.00 in Coquimbo. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $158, with Coquimbo cheaper for home cooking.

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 Coquimbo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Coquimbo differ by about 119% in total monthly costs ($1,243 vs $567 including rent). Coquimbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 26% lower in Coquimbo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $547 in Phuket versus $255 in Coquimbo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Coquimbo – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $33.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $567 in Coquimbo versus $1,243 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Coquimbo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Coquimbo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Coquimbo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Coquimbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.