😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,013 in Libertad.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,651 in Libertad.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,289 in Libertad.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 22% more expensive than Libertad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Libertad24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$16.11UYU 641
-71.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
$54.6UYU 2,170
-14.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$12.44UYU 495
-28.94%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$4.09UYU 163
-26.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$2.27UYU 90.2
-67.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$1.74UYU 69.3
-78.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
$4.36UYU 173
-44.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
$3.66UYU 145
-1.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
$1.21UYU 48.04
86.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
$2.89UYU 115
-36.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
$1.66UYU 66.1
34.94%
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
$4.88UYU 194
-52.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
$13.63UYU 542
44.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
$10.65UYU 424
-65.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
$11.08UYU 441
18.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
$3.09UYU 123
9.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
$2.42UYU 96.4
-32.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
$1.50UYU 59.8
60.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
$3.68UYU 146
-44.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
$2.14UYU 85.1
-27.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
$1.96UYU 77.9
-23.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
$1.30UYU 51.9
-21.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
$1.67UYU 66.5
-70.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
$5.01UYU 199
-11.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
$10.18UYU 405
85.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$2.30UYU 91.6
-22.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
$2.90UYU 115
-5.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
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
$1.57UYU 62.4
98.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
$3.49UYU 139
-71.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
$12.12UYU 482
16.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
$1.90UYU 75.5
-28.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
$33.9KUYU 1.3M
-19.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$36.0KUYU 1.4M
-8.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
$171UYU 6,794
-26.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$16.48UYU 655
-17.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
$49.21UYU 1,958
-62.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
$10.71UYU 426
-14.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
$485UYU 19.3K
44.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
$8,855UYU 352.2K
76.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
$96.2UYU 3,826
-39.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
$47.87UYU 1,904
-26.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
$116UYU 4,609
-2.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
$121UYU 4,825
-28.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.68
-6.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Libertad: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $55.0 in Libertad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $322 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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 Libertad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Libertad?
Phuket and Libertad differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $1,013 including rent). Libertad is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Libertad?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $1,519 in Libertad to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Phuket pay roughly 10% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Libertad?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $1,013 in Libertad – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,013 in Libertad versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Libertad but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Libertad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Libertad?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Libertad safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Libertad are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Libertad?
Expats usually find Libertad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.