Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and LugoCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Lugo
Monthly Cost of Living
ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,510 in Lugo.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,245 in Lugo.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,980 in Lugo.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 18% less than in Lugo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Lugo is 13% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Lugo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$13.78âŽ11.79
-66.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$53.9âŽ46.15
-13.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.30âŽ8.82
-14.17%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.97âŽ1.69
52.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.64âŽ2.26
-71.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$1.18âŽ1.01
-68.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$2.92âŽ2.50
-16.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.25âŽ1.92
60.44%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lugo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.15âŽ0.98
96.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.20âŽ1.03
53.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.61âŽ1.38
39.13%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$2.75âŽ2.35
-15.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$14.01âŽ11.99
40.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$6.45âŽ5.52
-43.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$22.68âŽ19.41
-42.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.83âŽ1.57
85.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.14âŽ1.83
-23.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.99âŽ2.56
-19.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$4.68âŽ4.00
-56.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.13âŽ0.96
38.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$2.72âŽ2.33
-44.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.13âŽ0.97
-9.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.89âŽ0.76
-44.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$5.99âŽ5.13
-25.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$4.65âŽ3.98
306.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.97âŽ1.69
-9.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.89âŽ2.47
-4.84%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Lugo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.77âŽ0.66
81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$22.75âŽ19.47
-49.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$5.31âŽ4.55
-41.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.02âŽ0.88
-1.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$24.59âŽ21.05
-42.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.78âŽ1.53
-24.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$30.9KâŽ26.5K
-12.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$32.0KâŽ27.4K
2.84%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lugo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$142âŽ122
-12.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$21.34âŽ18.27
-36.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$33.40âŽ28.59
-44.55%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lugo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$47.83âŽ40.94
28.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$11.42âŽ9.78
47.46%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$10.08âŽ8.63
-8.83%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lugo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$361âŽ309
93.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$8,318âŽ7,120
87.45%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lugo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$76.5âŽ65.5
-24.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$32.04âŽ27.43
9.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$87.8âŽ75.2
28.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$143âŽ122
-39.55%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lugo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$841âŽ720
-26.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$581âŽ497
-23.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$504âŽ432
306.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$826âŽ707
80.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,822âŽ2,416
33.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,253âŽ1,928
17.59%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lugo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$1,773âŽ1,518
-70.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.5
52.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Lugo: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $841 in Lugo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Lugo pays 238% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $54.0 in Lugo. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $290, with Lugo cheaper for home cooking.
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 Lugo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lugo cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Lugo?
On paper, Lugo earns 238% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Lugo?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $841 in Lugo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $361 in Lugo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Lugo?
Shoppers in Lugo pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Lugo?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,510 in Lugo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Lugo. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Lugo more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lugo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Lugo?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Lugo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 23% less than in Lugo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.