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 $736 in Maracay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $1,252 in Maracay, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $1,768 in Maracay, rent included.

Phuket costs about 72% more than Maracay, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Phuket and Maracay are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Maracay 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$4.91 VES 4,081
-5.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$32.80 VES 27.2K
-1.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$7.86 VES 6,531
10.43%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$1.70 VES 1,411
70.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$1.23 VES 1,018
-31.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$1.16 VES 963
-57.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$1.22 VES 1,011
103.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$3.08 VES 2,562
21.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$2.65 VES 2,203
-28.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$2.20 VES 1,830
-35.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$0.99 VES 820
63.64%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$2.74 VES 2,273
-18.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$6.73 VES 5,589
194.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$5.76 VES 4,782
-39.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$8.48 VES 7,040
34.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$4.25 VES 3,527
-31.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$1.96 VES 1,624
-12.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$2.11 VES 1,755
7.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$2.25 VES 1,866
-5.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$2.30 VES 1,908
-36.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$2.21 VES 1,837
-35.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$1.58 VES 1,315
-30.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$2.29 VES 1,899
-73.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$2.54 VES 2,109
69.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$10.04 VES 8,333
85.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$1.16 VES 967
55.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$1.78 VES 1,477
66.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$0.48 VES 402
368.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
$20.37 VES 16.9K
15.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$2.98 VES 2,478
4.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$2.68 VES 2,224
-59.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$10.11 VES 8,400
-61.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$0.61 VES 507
134.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$25.5K VES 21.2M
9.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$38.5K VES 32.0M
-29.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$12.66 VES 10.5K
727.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$10.83 VES 8,993
5.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$36.45 VES 30.3K
-51.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$29.99 VES 24.9K
81.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
$14.81 VES 12.3K
-22.75%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$4.05 VES 3,361
92.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$74.6 VES 61.9K
673.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$6,048 VES 5.0M
91.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$52.4 VES 43.5K
21.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$36.58 VES 30.4K
-20.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$82.0 VES 68.1K
17.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$94.0 VES 78.0K
-4.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$225 VES 186.5K
226.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$108 VES 90.0K
362.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$555 VES 461.2K
282.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$270 VES 224.3K
363.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
$454 VES 376.7K
679.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$200 VES 166.3K
1209.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Maracay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$209 VES 173.4K
143.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
21.5
-74.09%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Maracay: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $225 in Maracay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 143% 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $33.00 in Maracay. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Phuket vs $265 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 72% more than Maracay, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,104 in Maracay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Maracay?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maracay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Maracay?
Groceries cost about 4% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Maracay?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $33.00 in Maracay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap 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 $736, 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 $736 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 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.

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