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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $678 in Iquitos, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,054 per month in Phuket vs $1,210 in Iquitos, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,876 per month in Phuket vs $1,741 in Iquitos, rent included.

Phuket costs about 82% more than Iquitos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Iquitos are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 10% lower, Iquitos 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$4.44 PEN 14.98

-0.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,073

$38.60 PEN 130

-16.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

$7.46 PEN 25.17

19.71%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.3

$3.48 PEN 11.73

-16.67%

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

$0.88 ฿29.27

$0.88 PEN 2.96

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.00

$0.62 PEN 2.09

-22.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.2

$3.03 PEN 10.23

-22.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$7.28 PEN 24.55

-48.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.0

$1.82 PEN 6.13

2.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.75

$2.43 PEN 8.20

-39.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

Eggs

$2.10 ฿69.9

$2.66 PEN 8.96

-21.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿651

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$3.31 PEN 11.16

3.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿378

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.0

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿71.9

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.7

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.49

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.53

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.17

$0.87 PEN 2.94

-36.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿756

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.57

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

$26.6K ฿883.8K

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

$27.0K ฿898.7K

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

$102 ฿3,407

$35.89 PEN 121

185.51%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$11.42 PEN 38.54

-0.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿578

$8.74 PEN 29.48

99.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,732

$29.65 PEN 100

75.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿368

$8.68 PEN 29.29

27.53%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$6.00 PEN 20.23

28.17%

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

$561 ฿18.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿382.6K

$2,904 PEN 9,798

296.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,096

$87.5 PEN 295

-27.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿982

$36.35 PEN 123

-18.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,259

$53.0 PEN 179

84.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,943

$27.22 PEN 91.9

225.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.5K

$358 PEN 1,207

106.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.0K

$270 PEN 911

78.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.0K

$899 PEN 3,035

134.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$748 PEN 2,524

63.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

$585 PEN 1,974

-15.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Iquitos: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $738 in Phuket versus $358 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 19% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $39.00 in Iquitos. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Phuket vs $80.0 in Iquitos – so Iquitos 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 Iquitos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 82%, 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 $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,018 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 242% 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 $32.00 in Phuket and $39.00 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 $678, than in Phuket at $1,232. 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.