Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mendoza Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mendoza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,075 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $1,730 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $2,385 in Mendoza, rent included.

Phuket costs about 18% more than Mendoza, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Mendoza 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$10.84 ARS 15.5K

-56.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$41.73 ARS 59.5K

8.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

$9.70 ARS 13.8K

-13.09%

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

$3.69 ARS 5,262

-20.60%

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$2.24 ARS 3,193

-69.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$2.06 ARS 2,938

-82.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$2.02 ARS 2,884

19.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$2.93 ARS 4,187

26.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$1.27 ARS 1,808

75.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$1.49 ARS 2,128

22.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

$1.97 ARS 2,816

10.15%

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$2.21 ARS 3,146

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$11.57 ARS 16.5K

70.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$7.37 ARS 10.5K

-50.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

$9.56 ARS 13.6K

41.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$2.01 ARS 2,872

63.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

$1.54 ARS 2,191

4.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$1.47 ARS 2,092

63.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$2.09 ARS 2,985

-0.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$0.97 ARS 1,391

57.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.01 ARS 1,442

46.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

$1.02 ARS 1,459

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$2.74 ARS 3,911

-81.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

$2.45 ARS 3,493

80.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

$5.09 ARS 7,255

280.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.97 ARS 2,814

-9.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

$3.47 ARS 4,951

-21.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$0.73 ARS 1,035

87.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

$18.74 ARS 26.7K

-39.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

$0.41 ARS 587

636.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

$1.02 ARS 1,455

-2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

$4.93 ARS 7,036

186.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

$1.20 ARS 1,712

13.33%

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

$31.7K ARS 45.2M

-10.97%

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

$33.2K ARS 47.4M

-1.02%

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

$122 ฿3,975

$77.6 ARS 110.7K

56.83%

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

$13.57 ฿443

$17.56 ARS 25.1K

-22.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

$21.55 ARS 30.7K

-15.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

$27.98 ARS 39.9K

115.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

$16.31 ARS 23.3K

5.09%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

$6.10 ARS 8,697

42.46%

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

$693 ฿22.6K

$103 ARS 147.6K

570.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

$2,124 ARS 3.0M

638.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

$81.1 ARS 115.8K

-26.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

$75.6 ARS 107.8K

-53.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

$150 ARS 214.5K

-23.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

$119 ARS 169.8K

-30.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$353 ARS 504.0K

73.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$274 ARS 391.0K

59.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

$611 ARS 871.9K

242.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

$502 ARS 716.5K

200.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

$1,691 ARS 2.4M

121.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

$1,127 ARS 1.6M

132.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$725 ARS 1.0M

-29.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

-93.25%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 in Phuket versus $353 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 43% higher in Mendoza, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Phuket versus $42.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $249 – making Mendoza 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 Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,612 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mendoza, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 65% less in Mendoza. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $693 per month in Phuket and $103 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 Mendoza, where all-in costs run around $1,075, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Mendoza it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mendoza – 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 Mendoza. 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.