Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mercedes

For one person, living costs are similar in Phuket and in Mercedes: $1,294 and $1,285 a month, rent and utilities included.

Phuket, Thailand
Mercedes, Uruguay
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Mercedes
🇺🇾 Uruguay
$1,285
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Mercedes

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 Mercedes actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,294 per month in Phuket vs $1,285 in Mercedes, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • Mercedes $1,285

A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Phuket vs $1,968 in Mercedes, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • Mercedes $1,968

A family of three spends $3,115 per month in Phuket vs $2,650 in Mercedes, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • Mercedes $2,650

Phuket and Mercedes have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Phuket and Mercedes are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 4% lower, Mercedes 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Mercedes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿147
$15.66 UYU 630
-71.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,080
$63.1 UYU 2,537
-48.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿291
$14.04 UYU 565
-38.03%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.1
$2.53 UYU 102
7.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.11
$2.51 UYU 101
-62.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.70
$0.88 UYU 35.19
-43.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.6
$2.47 UYU 99.2
2.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿121
$3.79 UYU 153
-4.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mercedes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$1.25 UYU 50.2
39.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.51
$3.02 UYU 121
-51.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.43 UYU 57.5
4.90%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.6
$2.80 UYU 112
-22.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿638
$14.35 UYU 577
33.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
$11.51 UYU 463
-70.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿364
$7.40 UYU 298
47.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿98.3
$2.01 UYU 81.0
46.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.6
$2.42 UYU 97.3
-30.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.4
$1.14 UYU 45.87
92.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.0
$2.92 UYU 117
-27.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.77
$1.91 UYU 77.0
-23.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿45.74
$2.17 UYU 87.4
-36.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿35.98
$1.39 UYU 56.1
-22.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$1.71 UYU 68.8
-67.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿148
$4.87 UYU 196
-9.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿610
$8.29 UYU 334
120.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.3
$2.33 UYU 93.8
-24.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿96.3
$2.77 UYU 112
3.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Mercedes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.40
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,835
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$1.84 UYU 74.0
-17.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿25.94
$1.06 UYU 42.50
-26.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿128
$12.77 UYU 514
-69.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.74
$2.24 UYU 90.0
-33.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿898.9K
$26.7K UYU 1.1M
0.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿881.0K
$36.9K UYU 1.5M
-28.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mercedes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,271
$183 UYU 7,380
-46.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿378
$21.33 UYU 858
-47.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿575
$43.14 UYU 1,735
-60.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mercedes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,285
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿365
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿248
$12.07 UYU 485
-38.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mercedes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.7K
$632 UYU 25.4K
-16.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿628.1K
$11.2K UYU 450.8K
67.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mercedes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,062
$99.0 UYU 3,981
-37.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿945
$57.1 UYU 2,295
-50.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,210
$120 UYU 4,834
-20.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,903
$130 UYU 5,242
-33.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mercedes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.1K
$582 UYU 23.4K
23.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.0K
$295 UYU 11.9K
72.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.2K
$627 UYU 25.2K
210.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿46.7K
$452 UYU 18.2K
208.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿140.2K
$3,050 UYU 122.7K
37.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿110.3K
$1,968 UYU 79.2K
67.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mercedes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.65
-1.42%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Mercedes: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
Mercedes
$295 41.9% $213
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
Mercedes
$296 11% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
Mercedes
$248 96.3% $122
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
Mercedes
$183 49.1% $60
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
Mercedes
$231 93.4% $112
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
Mercedes
$24 * 71% $59
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
Mercedes
$7.1 * 89.2% $59

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $721 in Phuket versus $582 in Mercedes. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $63 in Mercedes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $296 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇺🇾 Mercedes
🕒 Local time
12:36 12:36 PM
02:36 2:36 AM
10 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
41,975
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

UYU, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.54 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Uruguayan Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 40.22 UYU (100 UYU = 2.49 USD). 1 EUR = 45.15 UYU (100 UYU = 2.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Mercedes 16,300 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Mercedes

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 Mercedes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Mercedes?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Phuket and $1,928 in Mercedes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Mercedes?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mercedes, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $582 there versus $721 in Phuket.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Mercedes?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Phuket – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Mercedes?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket and $63 in Mercedes. 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 Mercedes?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,294 in Phuket and $1,285 in Mercedes. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Phuket or Mercedes?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,285 in Mercedes to $1,294 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Phuket compared to Mercedes?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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