Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and MaracayCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maracay
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $642 in Maracay, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,125 in Maracay, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,608 in Maracay, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 95% more than Maracay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Maracay are more affordable than the global median – Phuket6% lower, Maracay52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$11.97VES 8,796
-61.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$54.7VES 40.2K
-15.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$7.35VES 5,401
20.27%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$1.34VES 985
128.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$1.23VES 904
-40.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$1.02VES 751
-60.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$1.54VES 1,134
57.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$2.02VES 1,487
87.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.82VES 1,335
24.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$2.71VES 1,991
-33.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.07VES 790
110.28%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$2.23VES 1,641
0.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$6.81VES 5,004
186.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$5.46VES 4,014
-33.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$7.37VES 5,416
77.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$3.91VES 2,876
-17.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.86VES 1,369
-12.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$2.17VES 1,596
9.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$2.05VES 1,509
-0.98%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$2.64VES 1,943
-42.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$2.14VES 1,573
-29.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$1.29VES 951
-24.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$1.90VES 1,400
-72.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$2.54VES 1,864
74.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$9.82VES 7,217
86.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.17VES 861
58.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$1.73VES 1,270
54.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$0.31VES 230
354.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$2.94VES 2,158
5.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$2.77VES 2,038
-62.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$10.14VES 7,452
39.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$0.51VES 375
156.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$24.9KVES 18.3M
11.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$39.6KVES 29.1M
-16.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$10.06VES 7,398
1117.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$13.14VES 9,658
3.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$39.46VES 29.0K
-52.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$53.0VES 39.0K
14.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$3.55VES 2,606
155.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$130VES 95.9K
441.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$5,448VES 4.0M
190.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$24.53VES 18.0K
138.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$29.53VES 21.7K
19.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$79.5VES 58.4K
45.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$102VES 74.9K
-17.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$444VES 326.0K
685.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$203VES 149.0K
1170.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$179VES 131.5K
179.36%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Maracay: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 179% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $55.0 in Maracay. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Phuket vs $247 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 95% 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 and in Maracay?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $963 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 $1,250 in Phuket and $642 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 in Maracay?
Kindergarten costs $706 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 in Maracay?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Maracay, where all-in costs run around $642, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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 $642 versus $1,250 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 to 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.