Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cuenca Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Cuenca

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $891 in Cuenca, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,325 in Cuenca, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,759 in Cuenca, rent included.

Phuket costs about 42% more than Cuenca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Cuenca are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Cuenca 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$3.40 $3.40

38.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$24.57 $24.57

84.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$7.13 $7.13

18.23%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$2.48 $2.48

18.15%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$0.83 $0.83

-16.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.70 $0.70

-47.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.98 $1.98

21.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$3.58 $3.58

3.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.13 $1.13

97.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.61 $1.61

13.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.53 $1.53

41.83%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.09 $2.09

5.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$5.43 $5.43

263.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$5.48 $5.48

-33.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$6.25 $6.25

116.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.47 $1.47

123.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.05 $1.05

53.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.23 $1.23

95.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.06 $1.06

96.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.53 $1.53

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.06 $1.06

39.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$0.46 $0.46

115.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$1.04 $1.04

-50.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$5.70 $5.70

-22.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$10.33 $10.33

87.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.43 $1.43

24.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$3.30 $3.30

-17.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.33 $0.33

315.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$26.98 $26.98

-57.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.68 $0.68

344.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$0.99 $0.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$13.64 $13.64

3.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$0.63 $0.63

115.87%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$30.4K $30.4K

-7.30%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$28.3K $28.3K

16.40%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$39.61 $39.61

207.25%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$13.71 $13.71

-1.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$31.29 $31.29

-41.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$29.47 $29.47

104.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$5.30 $5.30

223.40%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$7.46 $7.46

16.49%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$250 $250

176.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$5,599 $5,599

180.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$55.2 $55.2

7.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$54.5 $54.5

-36.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$99.7 $99.7

14.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$65.6 $65.6

26.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$370 $370

65.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$325 $325

34.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$674 $674

210.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$503 $503

200.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$1,245 $1,245

201.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$827 $827

216.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$537 $537

-5.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

11.48

-53.57%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Cuenca: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $370 in Cuenca. 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 6% higher in Cuenca, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $25.00 in Cuenca. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $184 – making Cuenca 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 Cuenca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,336 in Cuenca. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cuenca, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket and $25.00 in Cuenca. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $891 in Cuenca. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cuenca, where all-in costs run around $891, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Cuenca it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cuenca – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Cuenca. 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.