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: $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,063 in Iquique.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $1,657 in Iquique.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $2,251 in Iquique.

Living in Phuket is roughly 18% more expensive than in Iquique, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 9% lower, Iquique 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$7.96 CLP 7,408

-42.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,073

$43.56 CLP 40.5K

-25.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

$7.42 CLP 6,902

19.95%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.2

$3.54 CLP 3,296

-20.90%

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

$0.88 ฿28.94

$1.30 CLP 1,213

-32.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.08

$1.05 CLP 973

-53.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.5

$3.33 CLP 3,094

-28.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

$3.72 CLP 3,462

-0.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.8

$1.17 CLP 1,091

52.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.40

$1.22 CLP 1,134

18.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

$1.37 CLP 1,279

15.33%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$3.14 CLP 2,922

-32.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

$10.51 CLP 9,777

89.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

$10.80 CLP 10.0K

-68.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.0

$2.42 CLP 2,251

21.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

$2.24 CLP 2,089

-23.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.5

$1.64 CLP 1,524

41.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$1.09 CLP 1,011

90.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.34

$0.77 CLP 715

90.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.65

$0.66 CLP 610

106.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.13

$1.10 CLP 1,024

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.89

$1.41 CLP 1,314

-59.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$7.42 CLP 6,901

-42.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿606

$8.10 CLP 7,537

127.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.1

$0.82 CLP 767

256.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿73.0

$0.73 CLP 680

204.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.06

$1.46 CLP 1,362

2.05%

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

$27.1K ฿892.0K

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

$27.5K ฿902.6K

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

$103 ฿3,380

$92.0 CLP 85.6K

11.78%

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

$10.99 ฿361

$15.79 CLP 14.7K

-30.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

$24.70 CLP 23.0K

-29.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,760

$53.1 CLP 49.4K

0.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

$7.32 CLP 6,810

2.19%

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

$557 ฿18.3K

$271 CLP 252.1K

105.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,107

$31.86 CLP 29.6K

101.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

$24.23 CLP 22.5K

19.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,155

$47.84 CLP 44.5K

100.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

$60.9 CLP 56.7K

48.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

$449 CLP 417.9K

62.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

$407 CLP 378.4K

22.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

$710 CLP 660.8K

194.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.8K

$801 CLP 745.4K

50.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

$1,787 CLP 1.7M

101.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

$2,057 CLP 1.9M

22.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.6K

$972 CLP 904.1K

-48.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.5

-25.73%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Iquique: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $449 in Iquique. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Iquique pays 93% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $44.00 in Iquique. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $208, with Iquique cheaper for home cooking.

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 18% in total monthly costs ($1,253 vs $1,063 including rent). Iquique is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 93% lower in Iquique. 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: $730 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 31% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,253 per month in Phuket versus $1,063 in Iquique – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,063 in Iquique versus $1,253 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 18% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.