Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Linares Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Linares

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $1,125 in Linares, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,078 per month in Phuket vs $1,721 in Linares, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,896 per month in Phuket vs $2,318 in Linares, rent included.

Phuket costs about 12% more than Linares, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Phuket and Linares are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Linares 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ฿145

$5.45 CLP 5,024

-18.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.07 ฿1,151

$54.1 CLP 49.9K

-35.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.96 ฿294

$9.33 CLP 8,606

-3.97%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.4

$3.50 CLP 3,227

-14.29%

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

$0.77 ฿25.33

$0.65 CLP 599

18.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.44

$1.08 CLP 994

-56.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 ฿78.6

$4.43 CLP 4,086

-45.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿123

$3.30 CLP 3,041

13.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ฿59.8

$1.37 CLP 1,263

32.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ฿46.65

$1.90 CLP 1,750

-25.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.8

$1.72 CLP 1,589

-9.88%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$2.67 CLP 2,467

-20.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.76 ฿648

$11.63 CLP 10.7K

69.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 ฿114

$7.35 CLP 6,784

-52.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.09 ฿364

$11.53 CLP 10.6K

-3.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ฿95.5

$2.14 CLP 1,971

35.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ฿54.6

$1.65 CLP 1,524

0.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 ฿74.5

$1.70 CLP 1,567

33.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 ฿68.8

$0.85 CLP 784

147.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.24

$0.80 CLP 734

83.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 ฿46.29

$1.56 CLP 1,442

-9.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 ฿35.78

$1.37 CLP 1,260

-20.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ฿17.58

$1.20 CLP 1,106

-55.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.48 ฿147

$5.56 CLP 5,129

-19.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.72 ฿614

$6.32 CLP 5,832

196.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.4

$1.77 CLP 1,630

3.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ฿96.7

$2.60 CLP 2,397

13.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿74.1

$0.63 CLP 579

258.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.07 ฿757

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ฿99.9

$0.43 CLP 395

606.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 ฿35.82

$0.97 CLP 899

12.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 ฿125

$12.24 CLP 11.3K

-68.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿48.79

$1.69 CLP 1,556

-11.83%

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

$27.4K ฿900.3K

$18.9K CLP 17.4M

45.56%

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

$27.5K ฿902.7K

$22.7K CLP 21.0M

20.96%

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

$102 ฿3,340

$159 CLP 146.5K

-35.87%

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

$11.28 ฿370

$12.86 CLP 11.9K

-12.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.75 ฿582

$21.05 CLP 19.4K

-15.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 ฿1,777

$34.04 CLP 31.4K

59.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ฿360

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 ฿258

$7.81 CLP 7,207

0.51%

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

$577 ฿18.9K

$462 CLP 426.4K

24.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿381.6K

$3,936 CLP 3.6M

195.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 ฿2,144

$54.3 CLP 50.1K

20.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.89 ฿948

$30.74 CLP 28.4K

-6.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ฿3,250

$70.9 CLP 65.4K

39.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,961

$87.0 CLP 80.2K

3.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ฿24.8K

$511 CLP 471.4K

47.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 ฿16.0K

$389 CLP 358.7K

25.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 ฿68.4K

$964 CLP 889.2K

116.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ฿39.6K

$629 CLP 580.4K

91.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 ฿117.8K

$2,294 CLP 2.1M

56.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,610 ฿85.6K

$2,282 CLP 2.1M

14.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.5K

$861 CLP 794.0K

-41.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.94

12.75%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Last update for Linares: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $756 in Phuket versus $511 in Linares. 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 71% higher in Linares, 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 $35.00 in Phuket versus $54.0 in Linares. Groceries tell a different story – $272 in Phuket vs $240 in Linares – so Linares 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 Linares: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,891 per month in Phuket and $1,687 in Linares. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,261 in Phuket and $1,125 in Linares. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $577 per month in Phuket and $462 in Linares. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Linares, where all-in costs run around $1,125, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Linares it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Linares – 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 Linares. 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.