Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and MataroCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mataro
Monthly Cost of Living
ðA single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $1,829 in Mataro, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $2,709 in Mataro, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $3,589 in Mataro, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 33% cheaper than Mataro, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðPhuket sits 8% below the global median, while Mataro is 37% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Mataro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$17.08âŽ14.62
-72.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$58.0âŽ49.66
-19.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.53âŽ9.02
-16.05%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$2.15âŽ1.84
39.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.71âŽ2.32
-72.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$2.07âŽ1.77
-82.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$4.56âŽ3.90
-46.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$3.40âŽ2.91
6.18%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mataro
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.29âŽ1.11
75.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$2.05âŽ1.76
-10.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.29âŽ1.10
73.64%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.36âŽ2.88
-30.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$17.53âŽ15.00
12.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$9.53âŽ8.16
-61.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$13.97âŽ11.96
-6.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.66âŽ2.28
27.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$2.00âŽ1.71
-18.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.46âŽ2.11
-2.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.86âŽ2.45
-29.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.97âŽ1.69
-20.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$2.30âŽ1.97
-34.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.51âŽ1.29
-32.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.83âŽ0.71
-40.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$6.35âŽ5.44
-29.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$5.89âŽ5.04
220.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.23âŽ1.05
44.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.33âŽ1.99
18.03%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Mataro
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$2.28âŽ1.95
-38.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$25.74âŽ22.04
-55.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$2.47âŽ2.12
26.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.58âŽ1.35
-36.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$29.02âŽ24.84
-51.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.81âŽ1.55
-25.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$37.9KâŽ32.4K
-28.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$29.9KâŽ25.6K
10.03%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mataro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$186âŽ160
-32.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$20.91âŽ17.90
-35.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$36.38âŽ31.14
-49.09%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mataro
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$63.5âŽ54.4
-3.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$14.85âŽ12.71
13.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$10.88âŽ9.31
-15.53%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mataro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$529âŽ453
32.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$8,222âŽ7,038
89.64%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mataro
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$74.3âŽ63.6
-22.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$37.81âŽ32.37
-6.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$90.5âŽ77.4
25.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$112âŽ95.9
-22.87%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mataro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$889âŽ761
-30.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$810âŽ694
-44.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$1,366âŽ1,169
49.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$1,237âŽ1,059
20.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$3,530âŽ3,022
7.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,910âŽ2,491
-8.97%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mataro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$2,029âŽ1,737
-74.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.39
57.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Mataro: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $889 in Mataro. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 287% higher in Mataro, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket versus $58.0 in Mataro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $293 â making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Mataro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Mataro compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,232 in Phuket, $1,829 in Mataro â roughly 49% apart. Mataro costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Mataro?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $2,743 in Mataro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Mataro?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Mataro?
Public transport costs about 124% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Mataro?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $529 in Mataro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Mataro at $1,829. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mataro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Mataro?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $1,829 in Mataro. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Mataro safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Phuket and Mataro?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mataro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.