Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Iquique Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Iquique

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,045 in Iquique.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,709 in Iquique.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,374 in Iquique.

Living in Phuket is roughly 21% more expensive than Iquique, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Iquique 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$8.01 CLP 7,113

-41.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$42.47 CLP 37.7K

6.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$7.18 CLP 6,374

17.41%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$3.68 CLP 3,268

-20.38%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$1.30 CLP 1,156

-46.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$1.02 CLP 904

-63.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$3.50 CLP 3,105

-31.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$3.75 CLP 3,331

-0.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.16 CLP 1,029

92.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.17 CLP 1,042

56.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.37 CLP 1,219

58.39%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$3.58 CLP 3,174

-38.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$10.59 CLP 9,400

86.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$6.58 CLP 5,839

-44.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$10.97 CLP 9,738

23.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$1.82 CLP 1,619

80.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$2.27 CLP 2,013

-29.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.58 CLP 1,402

52.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$1.11 CLP 989

87.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.82 CLP 729

86.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$0.63 CLP 557

134.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.22 CLP 1,082

-18.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$1.19 CLP 1,054

-57.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$5.30 CLP 4,701

-16.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$8.38 CLP 7,437

131.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.56 CLP 1,383

14.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$2.30 CLP 2,038

17.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.68 CLP 604

101.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.51 CLP 454

492.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.43 CLP 1,266

-4.90%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$19.4K CLP 17.2M

45.56%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$21.7K CLP 19.2M

51.92%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$81.7 CLP 72.5K

49.01%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$13.61 CLP 12.1K

-0.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$22.34 CLP 19.8K

-18.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$42.96 CLP 38.1K

40.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$21.01 CLP 18.6K

-18.42%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$5.54 CLP 4,913

56.86%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$440 CLP 390.7K

57.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$32.41 CLP 28.8K

83.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$24.37 CLP 21.6K

42.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$48.10 CLP 42.7K

138.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$61.7 CLP 54.8K

34.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$449 CLP 398.5K

36.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$388 CLP 344.5K

12.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$740 CLP 656.3K

183.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$839 CLP 744.5K

79.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$1,926 CLP 1.7M

94.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$2,137 CLP 1.9M

22.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$1,018 CLP 903.9K

-50.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

7.5

-28.93%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Iquique: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $449 in Iquique. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquique pays 100% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $42.00 in Iquique for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $227 per month, with Iquique 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 Iquique: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Iquique differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $1,045 including rent). Iquique is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Iquique earns 100% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $449 in Iquique. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $1,045 in Iquique – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,045 in Iquique versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Iquique but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Iquique the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Iquique 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 Iquique gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.