😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $945 in Lomas de Zamora.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,556 in Lomas de Zamora.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,168 in Lomas de Zamora.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 34% more expensive than Lomas de Zamora, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Lomas de Zamora29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿154
$8.91ARS 12.8K
-47.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,483
$29.52ARS 42.5K
53.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿276
$9.24ARS 13.3K
-8.77%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.7
$2.04ARS 2,929
43.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.42
$2.01ARS 2,893
-65.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.00
$1.46ARS 2,094
-74.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.7
$3.67ARS 5,275
-34.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$4.11ARS 5,919
-9.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿73.0
$1.22ARS 1,748
82.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.9
$1.96ARS 2,826
-6.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.9
$2.04ARS 2,939
6.37%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.4
$2.37ARS 3,414
-6.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$11.93ARS 17.2K
65.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$5.90ARS 8,486
-38.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$9.22ARS 13.3K
46.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.56ARS 3,688
28.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.7
$2.16ARS 3,106
-25.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.7
$1.31ARS 1,886
83.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$2.62ARS 3,772
-20.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.97
$1.49ARS 2,137
2.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.41
$1.37ARS 1,975
8.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.32
$0.97ARS 1,402
2.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.68
$1.86ARS 2,671
-72.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$3.16ARS 4,548
39.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿634
$5.98ARS 8,609
224.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.30ARS 1,864
36.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.7
$3.03ARS 4,353
-10.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.83
$0.84ARS 1,206
63.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$30.47ARS 43.8K
-62.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.7
$1.65ARS 2,368
83.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.51
$0.91ARS 1,314
8.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$6.12ARS 8,809
130.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.55
$1.11ARS 1,593
22.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.9K
$23.8KARS 34.3M
18.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$26.5KARS 38.1M
24.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,978
$54.2ARS 78.0K
124.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
$18.47ARS 26.6K
-26.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿599
$14.92ARS 21.5K
22.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,969
$26.23ARS 37.7K
129.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$13.89ARS 20.0K
23.40%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$9.01ARS 13.0K
-3.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.7K
$295ARS 424.6K
134.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.8K
$3,568ARS 5.1M
339.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,946
$61.7ARS 88.8K
-3.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,137
$60.4ARS 86.9K
-42.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,746
$108ARS 155.5K
6.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,723
$94.9ARS 136.6K
-12.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$337ARS 485.3K
81.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$237ARS 340.2K
84.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.5K
$691ARS 994.5K
202.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$534ARS 768.7K
182.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.6K
$2,060ARS 3.0M
82.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.5K
$1,773ARS 2.6M
47.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lomas de Zamora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$696ARS 1.0M
-26.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
52.71
-89.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Lomas de Zamora: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $337 in Lomas de Zamora. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lomas de Zamora pays 37% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $30.00 in Lomas de Zamora for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $244 per month, with Lomas de Zamora 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 Lomas de Zamora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Lomas de Zamora?
Phuket and Lomas de Zamora differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $945 including rent). Lomas de Zamora is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lomas de Zamora earns 37% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Lomas de Zamora?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $337 in Lomas de Zamora. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Lomas de Zamora – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Phuket or Lomas de Zamora?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Phuket versus $945 in Lomas de Zamora – a 34% 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 $945 in Lomas de Zamora versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Lomas de Zamora but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Lomas de Zamora the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Lomas de Zamora?
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 Lomas de Zamora safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Lomas de Zamora 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 Lomas de Zamora?
Expats usually find Lomas de Zamora gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.