Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Guayaquil Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Guayaquil

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $1,065 in Guayaquil, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,699 in Guayaquil, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $2,332 in Guayaquil, rent included.

Phuket costs about 17% more than Guayaquil, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Guayaquil are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Guayaquil 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$3.59 $3.59

26.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,550

$48.44 $48.44

-4.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$7.81 $7.81

13.19%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$2.50 $2.50

22.40%

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

$0.73 ฿24.36

$0.90 $0.90

-18.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.37

$0.62 $0.62

-35.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.6

$2.97 $2.97

-18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$4.45 $4.45

-15.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿75.8

$1.13 $1.13

100.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.8

$1.71 $1.71

5.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.7

$1.77 $1.77

27.12%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.4

$2.54 $2.54

-11.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿655

$6.11 $6.11

219.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿122

$5.28 $5.28

-30.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿438

$6.17 $6.17

111.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$2.04 $2.04

58.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.3

$1.52 $1.52

6.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.0

$1.04 $1.04

128.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.0

$1.22 $1.22

66.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.5

$1.89 $1.89

-19.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.4

$1.39 $1.39

7.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.85

$0.67 $0.67

46.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.36

$0.98 $0.98

-46.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$5.92 $5.92

-25.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿615

$11.82 $11.82

54.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

$1.57 $1.57

18.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.0

$2.12 $2.12

26.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.37

$0.33 $0.33

327.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$21.12 $21.12

-44.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿104

$2.70 $2.70

15.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.00

$2.70 $2.70

-61.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$10.07 $10.07

40.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.02

$0.65 $0.65

101.54%

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

$27.8K ฿933.8K

$25.4K $25.4K

9.57%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$29.3K $29.3K

13.28%

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

$122 ฿4,110

$107 $107

14.56%

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

$13.59 ฿456

$13.58 $13.58

0.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿628

$31.85 $31.85

-41.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,031

$35.61 $35.61

69.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿570

$46.65 $46.65

-63.60%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$7.70 $7.70

17.79%

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

$706 ฿23.7K

$311 $311

127.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿530.5K

$5,954 $5,954

165.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,965

$51.2 $51.2

14.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,187

$42.94 $42.94

-17.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,876

$101 $101

14.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,811

$112 $112

-25.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

$337 $337

85.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿14.9K

$359 $359

24.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.5K

$524 $524

289.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.1K

$687 $687

117.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿116.9K

$2,266 $2,266

53.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.5K

$1,441 $1,441

78.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

$592 $592

-15.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

9.35

-42.99%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Guayaquil: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $337 in Guayaquil. 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 18% higher in Guayaquil, 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $48.00 in Guayaquil. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Phuket vs $197 in Guayaquil – so Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 17%, 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,598 in Guayaquil. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $311 in Guayaquil. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 47% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guayaquil, where all-in costs run around $1,065, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Guayaquil it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Guayaquil – 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 Guayaquil. 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.