Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and El Progreso Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and El Progreso

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $567 in El Progreso.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $893 in El Progreso.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,219 in El Progreso.

Living in Phuket is roughly 122% more expensive than El Progreso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, El Progreso 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$5.72 HNL 153

-20.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,533

$24.78 HNL 661

88.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿278

$7.88 HNL 210

7.49%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿99.5

$1.47 HNL 39.24

106.12%

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

$0.69 ฿22.65

$1.01 HNL 26.89

-31.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.03

$1.03 HNL 27.38

-64.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.8

$1.16 HNL 31.05

114.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$1.99 HNL 53.0

83.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.7

$1.29 HNL 34.35

68.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.5

$2.08 HNL 55.5

-8.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿72.3

$1.22 HNL 32.63

80.33%

Eggs

$2.22 ฿73.1

$2.04 HNL 54.4

8.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿657

$4.45 HNL 119

349.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿120

$3.89 HNL 104

-5.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿436

$7.84 HNL 209

69.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.97 HNL 79.3

8.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.8

$1.44 HNL 38.34

18.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.7

$1.45 HNL 38.66

64.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.3

$1.52 HNL 40.51

36.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.3

$1.60 HNL 42.66

-0.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.76

$1.35 HNL 35.88

9.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.85

$0.89 HNL 23.69

15.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.99

$1.67 HNL 44.45

-68.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿140

$2.47 HNL 65.9

72.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿618

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.8

$1.33 HNL 35.58

32.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿90.6

$1.80 HNL 48.01

53.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.73

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿374

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿103

$4.35 HNL 116

-27.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿34.05

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿452

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.20

$1.08 HNL 28.79

24.07%

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

$27.7K ฿909.7K

$19.5K HNL 520.2K

41.80%

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

$19.4K HNL 518.0K

74.26%

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

$124 ฿4,062

$80.7 HNL 2,150

53.19%

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

$13.52 ฿444

$9.07 HNL 242

49.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿614

$41.37 HNL 1,103

-54.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,032

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿567

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿300

$5.73 HNL 153

59.51%

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

$703 ฿23.1K

$245 HNL 6,538

186.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿521.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,955

$45.56 HNL 1,214

30.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,153

$35.67 HNL 951

-1.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,789

$111 HNL 2,952

4.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,763

$103 HNL 2,750

-18.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿119.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿86.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-55.58%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for El Progreso: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in El Progreso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $181 per month, with El Progreso cheaper across the board.

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 El Progreso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

El Progreso is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 122% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $850 in El Progreso to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 61% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $567 in El Progreso – a 122% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $567 in El Progreso versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Progreso but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes El Progreso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, El Progreso is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and El Progreso 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 El Progreso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 122% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.