Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maracaibo Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maracaibo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $783 in Maracaibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,303 in Maracaibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $1,823 in Maracaibo.

Living in Phuket is roughly 62% more expensive than in Maracaibo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Maracaibo 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Maracaibo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$10.44 VES 8,665
-55.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,066
$40.65 VES 33.8K
-20.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$9.04 VES 7,510
-3.98%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.9
$2.67 VES 2,219
8.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.91
$1.14 VES 944
-26.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.17
$1.33 VES 1,106
-63.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.1
$2.24 VES 1,858
10.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$2.92 VES 2,428
27.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Maracaibo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$1.78 VES 1,476
6.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.58
$2.11 VES 1,750
-33.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$1.03 VES 856
57.28%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$3.73 VES 3,101
-39.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$6.70 VES 5,560
196.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$6.47 VES 5,370
-46.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$7.47 VES 6,199
52.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.9
$4.72 VES 3,916
-38.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$1.37 VES 1,135
25.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.2
$1.55 VES 1,290
46.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.5
$1.41 VES 1,174
51.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.77
$1.23 VES 1,021
19.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.96
$1.75 VES 1,449
-18.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.29
$0.98 VES 810
12.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.78
$2.03 VES 1,684
-70.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$2.97 VES 2,464
45.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$8.97 VES 7,447
107.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.6
$1.09 VES 903
65.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.1
$2.61 VES 2,171
13.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Maracaibo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.3
$0.43 VES 360
423.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿777
$41.84 VES 34.7K
-43.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿103
$4.11 VES 3,416
-24.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.59
$2.04 VES 1,692
-47.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$17.34 VES 14.4K
-77.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.20
$0.66 VES 546
116.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.9K
$14.9K VES 12.4M
86.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿892.4K
$28.5K VES 23.7M
-5.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Maracaibo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,466
$63.0 VES 52.3K
66.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿377
$7.31 VES 6,072
55.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$25.06 VES 20.8K
-30.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Maracaibo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,797
$33.94 VES 28.2K
60.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
$28.21 VES 23.4K
-59.45%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$5.07 VES 4,211
53.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Maracaibo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.1K
$153 VES 127.0K
276.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿383.0K
$7,201 VES 6.0M
60.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Maracaibo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,104
$27.67 VES 23.0K
130.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿962
$32.17 VES 26.7K
-9.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,182
$61.3 VES 50.9K
57.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,977
$57.5 VES 47.8K
56.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Maracaibo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$162 VES 134.8K
351.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.6K
$93.1 VES 77.3K
438.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.3K
$298 VES 247.4K
613.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$197 VES 163.4K
536.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.9K
$743 VES 616.6K
375.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.7K
$506 VES 420.6K
417.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Maracaibo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$200 VES 166.3K
153.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
20
-72.15%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Maracaibo: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $162 in Maracaibo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 153% 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 $41.00 in Maracaibo. Groceries flip the comparison at $275 vs $242, with Maracaibo 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 Maracaibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maracaibo cheaper than Phuket?
Maracaibo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Maracaibo?
Average pay runs 153% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Maracaibo?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $162 in Maracaibo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $153 in Maracaibo. 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 in Maracaibo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Maracaibo?
At $783 in Maracaibo versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maracaibo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Maracaibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Maracaibo more family-friendly?
For families, Maracaibo 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.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Maracaibo?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Maracaibo 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 Maracaibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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