ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,679 in Fuengirola, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,609 in Fuengirola, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $3,539 in Fuengirola, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 27% cheaper than Fuengirola, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Fuengirola is 25% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Fuengirola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$13.65âŽ11.68
-66.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$63.0âŽ54.0
-25.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.23âŽ8.76
-13.59%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.29âŽ1.96
31.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.47âŽ2.11
-70.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.85âŽ1.59
-80.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$3.41âŽ2.92
-28.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$4.40âŽ3.76
-17.95%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Fuengirola
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.18âŽ1.01
91.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.51âŽ1.29
21.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.65âŽ1.41
35.76%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$2.82âŽ2.41
-17.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$15.17âŽ12.98
29.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$8.95âŽ7.66
-59.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$17.95âŽ15.37
-27.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.45âŽ2.10
38.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.10âŽ1.80
-21.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$1.79âŽ1.53
34.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.73âŽ2.34
-25.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.77âŽ1.51
-11.86%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.89âŽ1.62
-20.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.25âŽ1.07
-18.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.78âŽ0.66
-37.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$6.47âŽ5.54
-31.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$6.00âŽ5.13
214.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.22âŽ1.04
45.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.42âŽ2.07
13.64%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Fuengirola
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.82âŽ1.56
-23.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$11.61âŽ9.93
-1.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$4.72âŽ4.04
-33.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.06âŽ0.91
-5.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$24.84âŽ21.26
-43.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.82âŽ1.56
-25.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$39.3KâŽ33.6K
-30.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$30.7KâŽ26.2K
7.38%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Fuengirola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$134âŽ115
-6.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$21.56âŽ18.46
-37.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$32.81âŽ28.08
-43.55%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Fuengirola
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$50.9âŽ43.56
20.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$29.04âŽ24.86
-42.01%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$9.83âŽ8.41
-6.51%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Fuengirola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$401âŽ344
73.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$6,534âŽ5,593
138.62%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Fuengirola
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$80.7âŽ69.1
-28.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$40.09âŽ34.32
-12.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$90.5âŽ77.5
24.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$117âŽ100.0
-26.03%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Fuengirola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$994âŽ851
-38.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$777âŽ665
-42.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,938âŽ1,659
5.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,297âŽ1,111
15.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$3,687âŽ3,156
2.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,778âŽ2,378
-4.66%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Fuengirola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$1,862âŽ1,594
-71.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.46
54.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Fuengirola: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $994 in Fuengirola. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 255% higher in Fuengirola, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $63.0 in Fuengirola. Groceries tell a different story â $292 in Phuket vs $281 in Fuengirola â so Fuengirola wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Fuengirola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Fuengirola compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,679 in Fuengirola â roughly 36% apart. Fuengirola costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Fuengirola?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,518 in Fuengirola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Fuengirola?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Fuengirola?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $401 in Fuengirola. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Fuengirola â one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Fuengirola at $1,679. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fuengirola it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Fuengirola?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $1,679 in Fuengirola. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Fuengirola safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Phuket and Fuengirola?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fuengirola makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.