Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Latacunga Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Latacunga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $774 in Latacunga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,078 per month in Phuket vs $1,247 in Latacunga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,896 per month in Phuket vs $1,720 in Latacunga, rent included.

Phuket costs about 63% more than Latacunga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Latacunga are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Latacunga 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ฿145

$2.52 $2.52

75.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.07 ฿1,151

$27.89 $27.89

25.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 ฿294

$9.08 $9.08

-1.32%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.4

$2.78 $2.78

7.91%

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

$0.77 ฿25.33

$0.84 $0.84

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.44

$0.52 $0.52

-9.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 ฿78.6

$2.99 $2.99

-19.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿123

$4.43 $4.43

-15.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$1.17 $1.17

55.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ฿46.65

$1.93 $1.93

-26.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.8

$1.03 $1.03

50.49%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.78 $1.78

19.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.76 ฿648

$5.09 $5.09

288.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿114

$5.11 $5.11

-31.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 ฿364

$9.02 $9.02

22.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ฿95.5

$1.48 $1.48

96.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ฿54.6

$1.12 $1.12

48.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿74.5

$0.99 $0.99

129.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ฿68.8

$0.97 $0.97

116.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.24

$1.03 $1.03

42.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 ฿46.29

$0.98 $0.98

43.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ฿35.78

$0.51 $0.51

113.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ฿17.58

$0.94 $0.94

-42.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 ฿147

$6.16 $6.16

-27.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.72 ฿614

$10.12 $10.12

84.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.4

$1.53 $1.53

20.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ฿96.7

$2.22 $2.22

32.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿74.1

$0.36 $0.36

527.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.07 ฿757

$17.45 $17.45

32.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ฿99.9

$1.49 $1.49

104.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 ฿35.82

$1.70 $1.70

-35.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 ฿125

$12.03 $12.03

-68.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿48.79

$0.66 $0.66

125.76%

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

$27.4K ฿900.3K

$21.2K $21.2K

29.13%

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

$27.5K ฿902.7K

$30.7K $30.7K

-10.44%

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

$102 ฿3,340

$36.46 $36.46

179.24%

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

$11.28 ฿370

$15.76 $15.76

-28.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.75 ฿582

$26.42 $26.42

-32.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 ฿1,777

$30.55 $30.55

77.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ฿360

$14.49 $14.49

-24.36%

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 ฿258

$7.46 $7.46

5.23%

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

$577 ฿18.9K

$406 $406

42.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿381.6K

$6,043 $6,043

92.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 ฿2,144

$63.9 $63.9

2.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.89 ฿948

$40.80 $40.80

-29.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ฿3,250

$122 $122

-19.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,961

$92.6 $92.6

-2.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ฿24.8K

$304 $304

148.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 ฿16.0K

$189 $189

158.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 ฿68.4K

$687 $687

203.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ฿39.6K

$357 $357

237.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 ฿117.8K

$1,170 $1,170

206.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,610 ฿85.6K

$870 $870

199.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-44.30%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Last update for Latacunga: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Phuket versus $304 in Latacunga. 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 $35.00 in Phuket versus $28.00 in Latacunga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $272 vs $184 – making Latacunga 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 Latacunga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Phuket, $774 in Latacunga – roughly 63% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Phuket and $1,161 in Latacunga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $577 per month in Phuket and $406 in Latacunga. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 48% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Latacunga, where all-in costs run around $774, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Latacunga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $774 in Latacunga to $1,261 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Latacunga. 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.