😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,039 in Libertad.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $1,635 in Libertad.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $2,232 in Libertad.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 18% more expensive than Libertad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Libertad22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$16.22UYU 654
-72.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$54.0UYU 2,178
-13.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$12.14UYU 489
-30.07%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$4.27UYU 172
-27.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$2.24UYU 90.2
-69.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$1.70UYU 68.6
-78.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$4.38UYU 176
-44.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$3.74UYU 151
-2.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$1.22UYU 49.11
79.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$2.77UYU 112
-34.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$1.60UYU 64.4
39.37%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$4.98UYU 201
-55.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$13.50UYU 544
45.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$10.62UYU 428
-64.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
$10.82UYU 436
24.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$3.10UYU 125
8.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$2.38UYU 95.8
-31.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$1.57UYU 63.2
53.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$3.70UYU 149
-46.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$2.16UYU 87.1
-29.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$1.92UYU 77.5
-24.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$1.30UYU 52.4
-22.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$1.69UYU 68.0
-71.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$5.23UYU 211
-18.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$9.97UYU 402
91.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$2.38UYU 96.1
-22.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$3.06UYU 123
-10.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$1.57UYU 63.1
91.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$3.57UYU 144
-70.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$12.11UYU 488
14.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$1.88UYU 75.6
-31.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$34.2KUYU 1.4M
-18.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$35.8KUYU 1.4M
-6.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$174UYU 6,999
-29.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$16.96UYU 684
-17.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$50.2UYU 2,024
-62.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$10.63UYU 429
-16.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$488UYU 19.7K
41.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$8,874UYU 357.8K
82.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$96.5UYU 3,892
-40.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$48.45UYU 1,954
-26.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$112UYU 4,511
1.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$122UYU 4,936
-32.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Libertad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
-
-
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: June 13, 2026
Last update for Libertad: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $54.0 in Libertad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $321 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 18% in total monthly costs ($1,223 vs $1,039 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 $1,835 in Phuket and $1,558 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 $1,223 per month in Phuket versus $1,039 in Libertad – a 18% 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 $1,039 in Libertad versus $1,223 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 18% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.