😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $555 in Mariano Roque Alonso.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $918 in Mariano Roque Alonso.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $1,280 in Mariano Roque Alonso.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 127% more expensive than in Mariano Roque Alonso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Mariano Roque Alonso59% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43฿145
$6.67₲40.0K
-33.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07฿1,151
$33.30₲199.6K
5.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.96฿294
$6.45₲38.6K
38.91%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.4
$3.28₲19.6K
-8.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77฿25.33
$1.06₲6,360
-27.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47฿15.44
$0.59₲3,537
-20.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40฿78.6
$2.15₲12.9K
11.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿123
$2.01₲12.1K
86.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82฿59.8
$1.20₲7,176
51.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42฿46.65
$0.87₲5,203
63.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿50.8
$1.29₲7,708
20.16%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$2.26₲13.6K
-5.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.76฿648
$8.50₲50.9K
132.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿114
$5.14₲30.8K
-32.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.09฿364
$7.94₲47.6K
39.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91฿95.5
$1.93₲11.6K
50.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66฿54.6
$0.68₲4,068
144.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿74.5
$0.86₲5,134
163.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10฿68.8
$2.14₲12.8K
-1.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.24
$1.32₲7,921
11.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41฿46.29
$1.29₲7,749
9.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09฿35.78
$0.65₲3,890
67.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54฿17.58
$0.68₲4,057
-20.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48฿147
$2.27₲13.6K
97.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.72฿614
$4.07₲24.4K
359.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿60.4
$0.86₲5,135
113.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95฿96.7
$1.65₲9,888
78.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26฿74.1
$0.57₲3,424
296.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.07฿757
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04฿99.9
$1.41₲8,435
115.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09฿35.82
$1.45₲8,680
-24.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.82฿125
$9.78₲58.6K
-60.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿48.79
$1.14₲6,827
30.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K฿900.3K
$16.8K₲100.8M
63.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.7K
$33.5K₲201.0M
-17.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,340
$47.52₲284.7K
114.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28฿370
$16.46₲98.6K
-31.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75฿582
$19.15₲114.7K
-7.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.2฿1,777
$30.45₲182.5K
77.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96฿360
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.85฿258
$6.44₲38.6K
21.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$577฿18.9K
$180₲1.1M
221.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿381.6K
$1,216₲7.3M
856.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4฿2,144
$41.57₲249.1K
57.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89฿948
$54.0₲323.3K
-46.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1฿3,250
$83.4₲499.5K
18.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,961
$67.0₲401.7K
34.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$756฿24.8K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487฿16.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085฿68.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,207฿39.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,591฿117.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,610฿85.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mariano Roque Alonso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$502฿16.5K
$828₲5.0M
-39.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
9
-38.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026
Last update for Mariano Roque Alonso: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Mariano Roque Alonso pays 65% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Phuket vs $33.00 in Mariano Roque Alonso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $171 per month, with Mariano Roque Alonso 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 Mariano Roque Alonso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Mariano Roque Alonso?
Mariano Roque Alonso wins on cost – living expenses run 127% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mariano Roque Alonso the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Mariano Roque Alonso?
On paper, salaries run 65% lower in Mariano Roque Alonso. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Mariano Roque Alonso?
Childcare runs $577 in Phuket versus $180 in Mariano Roque Alonso. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Mariano Roque Alonso?
Dining out is cheaper in Mariano Roque Alonso – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $35.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Mariano Roque Alonso?
At $555 in Mariano Roque Alonso versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mariano Roque Alonso but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Mariano Roque Alonso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Mariano Roque Alonso?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mariano Roque Alonso delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $555 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mariano Roque Alonso hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Mariano Roque Alonso?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Mariano Roque Alonso 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mariano Roque Alonso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.