Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Isla de Margarita Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Isla de Margarita

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $663 in Isla de Margarita, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,232 in Isla de Margarita, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,801 in Isla de Margarita, rent included.

Phuket costs about 86% more than Isla de Margarita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Isla de Margarita are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Isla de Margarita 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$9.96 VES 4,850

-53.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

$79.1 VES 38.5K

-40.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

$2.51 VES 1,224

19.52%

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

$1.02 VES 495

-27.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

$1.52 VES 742

-75.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$0.98 VES 477

148.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

$3.09 VES 1,504

16.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$1.96 VES 954

15.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$2.95 VES 1,435

-37.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$1.96 VES 957

14.29%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$2.45 VES 1,195

-5.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$8.24 VES 4,013

138.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$7.78 VES 3,792

-53.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$7.90 VES 3,849

65.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$3.88 VES 1,891

-12.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.52 VES 742

7.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$2.01 VES 982

19.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$2.43 VES 1,181

-16.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$1.47 VES 717

6.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$1.78 VES 866

-15.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$0.99 VES 481

3.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

$4.88 VES 2,378

286.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$0.98 VES 477

81.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.52 VES 742

80.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

$2.92 VES 1,423

6.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

$3.02 VES 1,470

-66.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$125 ฿4,087

$29.45 VES 14.3K

324.38%

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

$13.57 ฿444

$14.74 VES 7,178

-7.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

$40.33 VES 19.6K

-54.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

$50.9 VES 24.8K

20.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

$14.73 VES 7,174

14.32%

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

$4.92 VES 2,398

86.79%

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

$698 ฿22.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

$78.9 VES 38.4K

-26.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

$101 VES 49.2K

11.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

$102 VES 49.6K

-15.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

$298 VES 144.9K

107.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

$498 VES 242.7K

310.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

$589 VES 286.8K

541.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Isla de Margarita: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $298 in Isla de Margarita. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $79.0 in Isla de Margarita. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Phuket vs $232 in Isla de Margarita – so Isla de Margarita 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 Isla de Margarita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 86%, 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 $994 in Isla de Margarita. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 26% 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 $79.0 in Isla de Margarita. 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 Isla de Margarita, where all-in costs run around $663, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Isla de Margarita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isla de Margarita – 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 Isla de Margarita. 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.