Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maracay Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maracay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $653 in Maracay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,148 in Maracay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,643 in Maracay, rent included.

Phuket costs about 94% more than Maracay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Maracay are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Maracay 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$11.76 VES 6,554
-60.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$56.0 VES 31.2K
-18.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$7.21 VES 4,018
16.92%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$1.35 VES 754
117.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$1.22 VES 682
-43.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.97 VES 539
-61.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.47 VES 821
63.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$1.95 VES 1,084
90.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.80 VES 1,000
23.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$2.67 VES 1,485
-31.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.03 VES 573
110.68%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$2.19 VES 1,222
0.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$6.67 VES 3,717
195.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$5.63 VES 3,140
-35.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$7.33 VES 4,086
84.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$4.02 VES 2,241
-18.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.87 VES 1,045
-13.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.26 VES 1,262
6.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$2.06 VES 1,149
0.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$2.62 VES 1,457
-41.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$2.05 VES 1,144
-27.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$1.36 VES 755
-27.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$1.87 VES 1,043
-72.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$2.44 VES 1,361
80.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$10.13 VES 5,648
91.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.12 VES 625
58.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$1.78 VES 993
52.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.29 VES 160
372.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$2.95 VES 1,642
2.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$2.74 VES 1,528
-63.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$9.90 VES 5,517
42.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$0.49 VES 273
177.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$24.6K VES 13.7M
14.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$40.2K VES 22.4M
-18.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$10.09 VES 5,621
1106.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$12.84 VES 7,156
5.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$39.35 VES 21.9K
-53.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$52.5 VES 29.3K
14.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$3.57 VES 1,988
143.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$130 VES 72.4K
433.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$5,571 VES 3.1M
181.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$24.75 VES 13.8K
140.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$30.04 VES 16.7K
15.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$79.1 VES 44.1K
44.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$99.8 VES 55.6K
-16.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$455 VES 253.8K
723.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$199 VES 110.7K
1216.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$179 VES 99.6K
184.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
21.33
-75.01%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Maracay: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 184% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $56.0 in Maracay. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Phuket vs $248 in Maracay – so Maracay wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Maracay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Maracay?
Phuket costs about 94% more than Maracay, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Maracay?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $980 in Maracay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Maracay?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,265 in Phuket and $653 in Maracay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Maracay?
Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $130 in Maracay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Maracay?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Maracay, where all-in costs run around $653, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Maracay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Maracay?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Maracay costs $653 versus $1,265 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Maracay?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or Maracay?
If budget matters most, go with Maracay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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