Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Luquillo Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Luquillo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,190 in Phuket versus $1,320 in Luquillo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,006 in Phuket versus $2,086 in Luquillo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Phuket versus $2,852 in Luquillo.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 10% less than in Luquillo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Luquillo 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 ฿146

$18.65 $18.65

-76.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.45 ฿1,090

$85.6 $85.6

-62.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 ฿283

$8.92 $8.92

-5.61%

Cappuccino

$2.81 ฿94.2

$3.75 $3.75

-25.07%

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

$0.87 ฿29.38

$1.64 $1.64

-46.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ฿15.44

$1.45 $1.45

-68.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 ฿86.8

$3.03 $3.03

-14.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ฿122

$2.27 $2.27

60.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿57.3

$2.30 $2.30

-25.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ฿48.56

$3.18 $3.18

-54.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.4

$2.40 $2.40

-35.00%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.5

$7.52 $7.52

-72.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.53 ฿656

$12.49 $12.49

56.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ฿114

$8.57 $8.57

-60.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.14 ฿374

$13.43 $13.43

-17.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 ฿95.1

$5.09 $5.09

-44.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.5

$2.58 $2.58

-37.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 ฿74.7

$4.76 $4.76

-53.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ฿72.1

$4.54 $4.54

-52.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 ฿50.1

$3.82 $3.82

-60.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.53

$2.65 $2.65

-49.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.82

$1.43 $1.43

-25.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.06

$1.65 $1.65

-69.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿147

$11.86 $11.86

-63.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.77 ฿630

$12.07 $12.07

55.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ฿58.5

$3.02 $3.02

-42.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿93.2

$3.95 $3.95

-29.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.17 ฿72.8

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.28 ฿748

$59.7 $59.7

-62.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿101

$2.55 $2.55

18.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 ฿35.53

$1.52 $1.52

-30.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.71 ฿125

$41.26 $41.26

-91.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿48.03

$0.83 $0.83

72.29%

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

$26.3K ฿884.7K

$40.2K $40.2K

-34.41%

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

$26.2K ฿879.9K

$27.8K $27.8K

-5.86%

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

$96.7 ฿3,246

$247 $247

-60.79%

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

$11.41 ฿383

$68.9 $68.9

-83.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.11 ฿574

$69.8 $69.8

-75.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 ฿1,773

$37.51 $37.51

40.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿372

Cinema Ticket

$7.65 ฿257

$10.31 $10.31

-25.80%

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

$555 ฿18.6K

$810 $810

-31.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿378.8K

$12.4K $12.4K

-8.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 ฿2,130

$55.7 $55.7

13.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.61 ฿961

$61.3 $61.3

-53.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.7 ฿3,248

$80.6 $80.6

20.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.6 ฿2,975

$113 $113

-21.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$735 ฿24.7K

$798 $798

-7.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 ฿15.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,102 ฿70.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,187 ฿39.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,493 ฿117.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,491 ฿83.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$501 ฿16.8K

$3,012 $3,012

-83.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

4.73

17.76%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026

Last update for Luquillo: October 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $735 in Phuket and $798 in Luquillo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Luquillo pays 501% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $86.0 in Luquillo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $387 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 Luquillo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 501% lower in Luquillo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $735 in Phuket versus $798 in Luquillo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,190 per month in Phuket versus $1,320 in Luquillo – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 168% less than in Luquillo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,190 in Phuket versus $1,320 in Luquillo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Luquillo. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Luquillo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Luquillo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Luquillo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.