Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mendoza

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,190 a month against $1,361 in Mendoza, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. The total is higher in Mendoza despite lower rent and utilities.

59

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
Learn more

Phuket Living Index
67

Cost of Living Index in Mendoza
Learn more

Mendoza Living Index

Jump to prices

Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,190

/mo nomad

Mendoza

🇦🇷 Argentina

$1,361

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Mendoza

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Mendoza actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,190 per month in Phuket vs $1,361 in Mendoza, rent included.

Phuket $1,190
Mendoza $1,361

A couple spends around $2,006 per month in Phuket vs $2,195 in Mendoza, rent included.

Phuket $2,006
Mendoza $2,195

A family of three spends $2,822 per month in Phuket vs $3,029 in Mendoza, rent included.

Phuket $2,822
Mendoza $3,029

Phuket is about 13% cheaper than Mendoza, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Phuket sits 11% below the global median, while Mendoza is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 ฿146

$10.87 ARS 16.5K

-59.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.45 ฿1,087

$50.0 ARS 75.9K

-35.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 ฿282

$14.90 ARS 22.6K

-43.49%

Cappuccino

$2.81 ฿94.0

$4.55 ARS 6,901

-38.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 ฿29.29

$2.42 ARS 3,669

-64.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ฿15.39

$1.89 ARS 2,859

-75.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.59 ฿86.6

$4.05 ARS 6,137

-36.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.64 ฿122

$4.60 ARS 6,973

-20.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿57.2

$1.34 ARS 2,033

27.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ฿48.42

$2.27 ARS 3,438

-36.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.56 ฿52.3

$2.67 ARS 4,053

-41.57%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.3

$3.19 ARS 4,844

-34.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.53 ฿654

$14.61 ARS 22.2K

33.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 ฿114

$6.30 ARS 9,560

-46.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.14 ฿373

$10.95 ARS 16.6K

1.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 ฿94.8

$2.32 ARS 3,513

21.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.3

$2.14 ARS 3,245

-24.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 ฿74.5

$1.34 ARS 2,039

65.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ฿71.9

$3.19 ARS 4,842

-32.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 ฿49.95

$2.03 ARS 3,078

-26.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 ฿44.40

$1.50 ARS 2,278

-11.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.72

$1.94 ARS 2,946

-44.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿17.01

$2.51 ARS 3,807

-79.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿147

$2.80 ARS 4,246

56.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.77 ฿629

$5.03 ARS 7,628

273.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ฿58.3

$1.79 ARS 2,712

-2.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.9

$2.93 ARS 4,447

-5.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.17 ฿72.6

$0.97 ARS 1,473

123.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.28 ฿746

$19.83 ARS 30.1K

12.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿101

$2.05 ARS 3,113

47.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 ฿35.43

$1.02 ARS 1,541

3.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.71 ฿124

$5.04 ARS 7,644

-26.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿47.88

$1.21 ARS 1,832

18.18%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.3K ฿882.1K

$26.7K ARS 40.4M

-1.17%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K ฿877.3K

$33.2K ARS 50.4M

-21.15%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$96.7 ฿3,236

$143 ARS 217.3K

-32.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.41 ฿382

$17.59 ARS 26.7K

-35.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.11 ฿573

$24.39 ARS 37.0K

-29.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 ฿1,768

$31.80 ARS 48.2K

66.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿371

$17.99 ARS 27.3K

-38.47%

Cinema Ticket

$7.65 ฿256

$7.16 ARS 10.9K

6.84%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$555 ฿18.6K

$173 ARS 262.7K

220.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿377.7K

$4,150 ARS 6.3M

171.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 ฿2,123

$127 ARS 193.0K

-50.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.61 ฿958

$140 ARS 211.8K

-79.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.7 ฿3,238

$146 ARS 220.9K

-33.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.6 ฿2,967

$161 ARS 244.8K

-45.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$735 ฿24.6K

$561 ARS 850.6K

30.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 ฿15.3K

$340 ARS 515.9K

34.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,102 ฿70.4K

$975 ARS 1.5M

115.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,187 ฿39.7K

$682 ARS 1.0M

74.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,493 ฿116.9K

$1,699 ARS 2.6M

105.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,491 ฿83.4K

$1,115 ARS 1.7M

123.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$501 ฿16.8K

$768 ARS 1.2M

-34.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-90.56%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$458 38.1%

Mendoza

$340 24.7% 25.7% $118

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$268 22.3%

Mendoza

$285 20.7% 6.5% $17

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$125 10.4%

Mendoza

$185 13.4% 48% $60

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$125 10.4%

Mendoza

$258 18.7% 107% $133

Eating Out

Phuket

$119 9.9%

Mendoza

$233 16.9% 95.3% $114

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$68 5.7%

Mendoza

$46 3.3% 32.3% $22

Getting Around

Phuket

$39 3.3%

Mendoza

$31 2.2% 21.4% $8.4

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $735 in Phuket versus $561 in Mendoza. 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 53% higher in Mendoza, 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 $50.0 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $285 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇦🇷 Mendoza

🕒 Local time

12:11 12:11 PM

02:11 2:11 AM

10 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

937,154

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Argentine Peso ARS $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD

10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,701 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Phuket Mendoza 16,940 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
Mendoza

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 14%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,785 per month in Phuket and $2,042 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Public transport costs about 12% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $555 per month in Phuket and $173 in Mendoza. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,190, than in Mendoza at $1,361. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mendoza makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.