Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and La Serena

For one person, living is cheaper in La Serena: $1,093 a month against $1,278 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Phuket outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
53

Cost of Living Index in La Serena
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La Serena Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

La Serena

🇨🇱 Chile

$1,093

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in La Serena

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in La Serena actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $1,093 in La Serena, rent included.

Phuket $1,278
La Serena $1,093

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $1,806 in La Serena, rent included.

Phuket $2,216
La Serena $1,806

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $2,518 in La Serena, rent included.

Phuket $3,154
La Serena $2,518

Phuket costs about 17% more than La Serena, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Phuket and La Serena are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, La Serena 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$7.54 CLP 7,489

-40.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,094

$47.87 CLP 47.5K

-32.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$8.24 CLP 8,183

6.92%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.4

$2.91 CLP 2,890

-2.75%

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

$0.87 ฿29.42

$1.08 CLP 1,075

-19.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.66

$0.63 CLP 624

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.3

$2.08 CLP 2,062

23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$3.90 CLP 3,874

-5.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿56.0

$1.16 CLP 1,150

43.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.32

$2.38 CLP 2,361

-38.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.50 CLP 1,488

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$3.69 CLP 3,663

-43.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿643

$12.25 CLP 12.2K

55.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

$5.63 CLP 5,596

-41.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

$12.68 CLP 12.6K

-13.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.9

$1.86 CLP 1,847

57.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.0

$1.67 CLP 1,663

1.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$1.25 CLP 1,238

80.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.1

$1.42 CLP 1,414

46.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

$1.16 CLP 1,149

30.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.18 CLP 1,168

16.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.97

$1.00 CLP 996

7.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.51

$0.89 CLP 886

-41.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

$5.11 CLP 5,074

-17.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$5.14 CLP 5,109

265.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.5

$0.97 CLP 968

87.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.9

$2.01 CLP 2,001

41.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿49.00

$0.99 CLP 983

46.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,912

$34.66 CLP 34.4K

63.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$0.70 CLP 693

331.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.34

$2.00 CLP 1,982

-49.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿125

$12.35 CLP 12.3K

-70.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.78

$1.38 CLP 1,368

6.52%

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

$26.8K ฿903.7K

$19.2K CLP 19.1M

39.23%

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

$26.7K ฿900.8K

$12.1K CLP 12.0M

121.38%

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

$96.4 ฿3,252

$84.7 CLP 84.2K

13.74%

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

$11.26 ฿380

$10.79 CLP 10.7K

4.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿569

$20.76 CLP 20.6K

-18.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,269

$88.4 CLP 87.8K

-23.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

$20.59 CLP 20.4K

-47.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

$7.97 CLP 7,912

-5.90%

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

$476 ฿16.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿380.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,105

$42.44 CLP 42.2K

46.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿959

$59.5 CLP 59.1K

-52.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,182

$90.1 CLP 89.5K

4.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,896

$102 CLP 100.9K

-15.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.2K

$414 CLP 411.6K

72.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$316 CLP 313.7K

55.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.0K

$877 CLP 871.4K

119.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$696 CLP 690.9K

105.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿140.9K

$2,009 CLP 2.0M

107.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.8K

$1,298 CLP 1.3M

134.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿17.0K

$710 CLP 705.2K

-29.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

6.5

-14.31%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for La Serena: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

La Serena

$316 28.9% 35.7% $175

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

La Serena

$230 21.1% 13.5% $36

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

La Serena

$116 10.6% 6.6% $8.2

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

La Serena

$132 12.1% 8.4% $10

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

La Serena

$145 13.3% 19.1% $23

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

La Serena

$104 9.6% 26.9% $22

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

La Serena

$49 4.5% 30.2% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $414 in La Serena. 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 41% higher in La Serena, 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 in Phuket versus $48 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Phuket vs $230 in La Serena – so La Serena wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇨🇱 La Serena

🕒 Local time

07:57 7:57 AM

21:57 9:57 PM

10 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

195,382

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Chilean Peso CLP $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

10,000 CLP = 10.07 USD

10,000 CLP = 9.02 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 33.75 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.68 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 993 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.01 USD). 1 EUR = 1,109 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.02 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Phuket La Serena 17,340 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
La Serena

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 17%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $1,640 in La Serena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in La Serena, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $414 there versus $716 in Phuket.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $1,093 in La Serena. That makes La Serena about 14% cheaper.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $48 in La Serena. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,278 in Phuket and $1,093 in La Serena, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,093 in La Serena to $1,278 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.