Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Machala Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Machala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $655 in Machala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $1,025 in Machala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,394 in Machala.

Living in Phuket is roughly 87% more expensive than Machala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Machala 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

$2.52 $2.52

78.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

$24.63 $24.63

89.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

$6.56 $6.56

29.42%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

$2.52 $2.52

22.22%

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

$0.68 ฿22.07

$0.78 $0.78

-12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

$0.48 $0.48

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

$1.97 $1.97

23.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

$4.47 $4.47

-18.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

$1.05 $1.05

108.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

$1.10 $1.10

64.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

$0.96 $0.96

132.29%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

$1.46 $1.46

53.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

$3.28 $3.28

497.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

$4.16 $4.16

-10.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

$4.80 $4.80

180.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

$2.06 $2.06

63.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

$1.05 $1.05

54.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

$0.77 $0.77

212.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

$1.08 $1.08

84.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

$0.42 $0.42

264.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

$0.48 $0.48

202.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

$0.36 $0.36

180.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

$1.02 $1.02

-52.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

$4.44 $4.44

-3.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

$7.71 $7.71

147.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

$1.61 $1.61

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

$2.23 $2.23

22.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

$0.36 $0.36

294.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

$24.11 $24.11

-51.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

$1.46 $1.46

105.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

$0.98 $0.98

7.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

$7.92 $7.92

75.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

$0.60 $0.60

115.00%

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

$28.0K ฿911.1K

$18.3K $18.3K

53.24%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$22.4K $22.4K

49.86%

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

$122 ฿3,964

$37.20 $37.20

227.90%

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

$13.93 ฿453

$13.80 $13.80

0.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

$26.99 $26.99

-30.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

$43.06 $43.06

42.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

$14.49 $14.49

16.22%

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

$5.13 $5.13

73.29%

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

$691 ฿22.5K

$133 $133

421.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

$5,822 $5,822

177.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

$51.7 $51.7

11.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

$43.73 $43.73

-19.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

$81.1 $81.1

39.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

$69.0 $69.0

20.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

$187 $187

225.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

$134 $134

234.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

$345 $345

488.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

$256 $256

483.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

$1,205 $1,205

197.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

$812 $812

218.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

$447 $447

12.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.60%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Machala: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $187 in Machala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 13% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Machala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $145 per month, with Machala 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 Machala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Machala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 87% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Phuket pays 13% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $187 in Machala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Machala – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,223 per month in Phuket versus $655 in Machala – a 87% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $655 in Machala versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Machala but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Machala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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

Safety-wise, Phuket and Machala 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 Machala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.