Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Iquitos Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Iquitos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $633 in Iquitos, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,133 in Iquitos, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,633 in Iquitos, rent included.

Phuket costs about 99% more than Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Iquitos are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Iquitos 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

$4.21 PEN 14.30

8.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

$36.32 PEN 123

28.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 ฿276

$6.96 PEN 23.65

21.70%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

$3.29 PEN 11.18

-7.90%

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

$0.69 ฿22.45

$0.86 PEN 2.92

-19.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

$0.94 PEN 3.20

-60.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 ฿81.0

$2.84 PEN 9.67

-12.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$6.84 PEN 23.27

-46.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.18 ฿71.0

$1.63 PEN 5.55

33.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 ฿62.0

$2.15 PEN 7.32

-11.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.6

Eggs

$2.22 ฿72.4

$2.41 PEN 8.20

-7.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.99 ฿651

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.66 ฿119

$3.11 PEN 10.56

17.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.25 ฿432

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿105

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.3

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 ฿78.0

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿67.7

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.31

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ฿33.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.83

$0.85 PEN 2.87

-38.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 ฿89.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

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

$27.7K ฿901.4K

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

$33.9K ฿1.1M

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

$124 ฿4,025

$33.11 PEN 113

273.27%

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

$13.52 ฿440

$10.73 PEN 36.48

26.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

$8.29 PEN 28.18

125.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

$27.82 PEN 94.6

122.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

$8.46 PEN 28.77

103.90%

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

$5.61 PEN 19.07

62.92%

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

$703 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

$2,698 PEN 9,171

488.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

$83.5 PEN 284

-28.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

$33.64 PEN 114

4.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

$49.23 PEN 167

134.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

$24.79 PEN 84.3

239.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

$337 PEN 1,147

83.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$433 ฿14.1K

$254 PEN 864

70.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

$842 PEN 2,862

144.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

$700 PEN 2,381

115.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

$579 PEN 1,967

-12.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $337 in Iquitos. 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 14% higher in Iquitos, 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $36.00 in Iquitos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $73.0 – making Iquitos the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Iquitos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 99%, 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 $1,892 per month in Phuket and $950 in Iquitos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 300% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $36.00 in Iquitos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iquitos, where all-in costs run around $633, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Iquitos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Iquitos – 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 Iquitos. 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.