Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ecatepec

For one person, living is cheaper in Ecatepec: $941 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Phuket outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
45

Cost of Living Index in Ecatepec
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Ecatepec Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

Ecatepec

🇲🇽 Mexico

$941

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Ecatepec

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

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $941 in Ecatepec, rent included.

Phuket $1,278
Ecatepec $941

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $1,634 in Ecatepec, rent included.

Phuket $2,216
Ecatepec $1,634

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $2,327 in Ecatepec, rent included.

Phuket $3,154
Ecatepec $2,327

Phuket costs about 36% more than Ecatepec, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both Phuket and Ecatepec are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Ecatepec 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$10.59 MX$199

-57.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,093

$48.51 MX$909

-33.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$9.63 MX$180

-8.52%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.4

$3.48 MX$65.2

-18.68%

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

$0.87 ฿29.40

$1.57 MX$29.34

-44.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.65

$1.02 MX$19.14

-51.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.3

$3.19 MX$59.8

-19.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$5.44 MX$102

-32.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿55.9

$1.78 MX$33.35

-6.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.29

$2.70 MX$50.5

-45.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.97 MX$36.90

-23.86%

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$2.70 MX$50.5

-22.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿643

$8.95 MX$168

113.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

$9.01 MX$169

-63.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

$13.19 MX$247

-17.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.8

$3.18 MX$59.7

-7.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.0

$1.59 MX$29.76

6.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.7

$1.97 MX$37.01

14.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.0

$1.90 MX$35.62

9.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

$1.81 MX$33.92

-16.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.51

$1.72 MX$32.21

-19.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.95

$1.45 MX$27.24

-26.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.50

$1.22 MX$22.89

-57.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

$4.52 MX$84.8

-7.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$16.00 MX$300

17.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.4

$1.94 MX$36.40

-6.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.8

$3.84 MX$71.9

-26.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿48.97

$0.68 MX$12.70

113.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,911

$30.56 MX$573

85.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$1.92 MX$36.05

57.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.32

$0.49 MX$9.15

108.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿124

$5.51 MX$103

-33.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.75

$1.43 MX$26.80

2.80%

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

$26.8K ฿903.2K

$21.3K MX$399.4K

25.62%

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

$26.7K ฿900.3K

$23.2K MX$434.2K

15.18%

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

$96.4 ฿3,250

$56.3 MX$1,054

71.23%

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

$11.26 ฿380

$26.84 MX$503

-58.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿568

$23.91 MX$448

-29.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,268

$25.75 MX$483

161.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

$10.64 MX$199

0.85%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

$6.48 MX$121

15.74%

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

$476 ฿16.1K

$265 MX$4,969

79.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿379.9K

$4,979 MX$93.3K

126.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,103

$58.2 MX$1,090

7.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿958

$44.37 MX$831

-35.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,180

$99.2 MX$1,859

-4.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,894

$96.3 MX$1,804

-10.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.1K

$239 MX$4,479

199.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$134 MX$2,514

265.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.0K

$665 MX$12.5K

189.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$430 MX$8,060

232.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿140.8K

$768 MX$14.4K

443.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.7K

$751 MX$14.1K

305.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.9K

$548 MX$10.3K

-8.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.35

-50.93%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ecatepec: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

Ecatepec

$134 14.3% 72.7% $357

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

Ecatepec

$296 31.5% 11.4% $30

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

Ecatepec

$107 11.4% 14% $17

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Ecatepec

$134 14.3% 10% $12

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

Ecatepec

$193 20.5% 58.2% $71

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

Ecatepec

$39 4.1% 52.9% $44

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

Ecatepec

$38 4% 46.7% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $239 in Ecatepec. 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 9% higher in Ecatepec, 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 $32 in Phuket versus $49 in Ecatepec. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $296 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇲🇽 Ecatepec

🕒 Local time

05:38 5:38 AM

16:38 4:38 PM

13 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

1,645,352

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Mexican Peso MXN $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

100 MXN = 5.34 USD

100 MXN = 4.76 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.74 MXN (100 MXN = 5.34 USD). 1 EUR = 21 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Phuket Ecatepec 16,410 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Ecatepec

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 Ecatepec: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,278 in Phuket, $941 in Ecatepec – Ecatepec comes out roughly 26% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in leisure.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $1,411 in Ecatepec. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ecatepec, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $239 there versus $716 in Phuket.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $49 in Ecatepec. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $941 in Ecatepec. That makes Ecatepec about 26% cheaper.

A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Ecatepec, where all-in costs run around $941, than in Phuket at $1,278. In Ecatepec it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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