😐A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $1,210 in Miguel Hidalgo, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,089 per month in Phuket vs $2,098 in Miguel Hidalgo, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,913 per month in Phuket vs $2,985 in Miguel Hidalgo, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 5% more than Miguel Hidalgo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Phuket and Miguel Hidalgo are more affordable than the global median – Phuket8% lower, Miguel Hidalgo12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿154
$11.58MX$196
-59.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,065
$92.4MX$1,568
-65.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿287
$9.35MX$159
-7.17%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.8
$3.82MX$64.8
-24.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.89
$1.45MX$24.56
-42.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.16
$1.10MX$18.64
-55.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.0
$2.57MX$43.55
-3.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
$6.64MX$113
-43.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.3
$1.73MX$29.32
9.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.54
$2.90MX$49.28
-51.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.6
$1.80MX$30.51
-10.00%
Eggs
$2.24฿74.1
$2.55MX$43.33
-12.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿656
$8.84MX$150
124.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
$9.88MX$168
-64.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿376
$12.14MX$206
-6.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.8
$2.87MX$48.65
1.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.0
$1.67MX$28.26
2.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.1
$2.04MX$34.67
11.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.4
$1.98MX$33.67
7.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.72
$2.07MX$35.13
-28.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.92
$1.97MX$33.49
-27.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.25
$1.46MX$24.75
-24.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.76
$1.16MX$19.72
-48.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$4.57MX$77.5
-5.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿615
$11.58MX$196
60.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.5
$1.93MX$32.79
-6.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.0
$3.29MX$55.9
-9.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.2
$0.68MX$11.53
230.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿776
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$2.77MX$47.06
11.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.56
$2.08MX$35.33
-48.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿128
$11.96MX$203
-67.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.16
$1.56MX$26.49
-8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿918.0K
$23.2KMX$393.3K
19.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿891.5K
$26.0KMX$440.4K
3.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,462
$33.58MX$570
212.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿376
$23.57MX$400
-51.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿580
$33.60MX$570
-47.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,795
$49.35MX$837
10.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿378
$21.65MX$367
-47.16%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿257
$5.48MX$93.0
41.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$251MX$4,253
129.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿382.7K
$4,987MX$84.6K
132.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,103
$78.9MX$1,339
-19.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿961
$44.46MX$754
-34.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,179
$99.7MX$1,691
-3.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,974
$91.2MX$1,547
-1.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.2K
$646MX$11.0K
13.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
$418MX$7,083
19.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.2K
$1,099MX$18.6K
93.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.4K
$830MX$14.1K
50.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.8K
$2,004MX$34.0K
76.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.6K
$1,227MX$20.8K
113.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.8K
$598MX$10.1K
-15.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
11.3
-50.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Miguel Hidalgo: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $733 in Phuket versus $646 in Miguel Hidalgo. 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 18% higher in Miguel Hidalgo, 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 $32.00 in Phuket versus $92.0 in Miguel Hidalgo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $275 vs $288 – 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 Miguel Hidalgo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Miguel Hidalgo cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,898 per month in Phuket and $1,815 in Miguel Hidalgo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Miguel Hidalgo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Miguel Hidalgo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Phuket and $92.0 in Miguel Hidalgo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Miguel Hidalgo?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Phuket – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Miguel Hidalgo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Miguel Hidalgo, where all-in costs run around $1,210, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Miguel Hidalgo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Miguel Hidalgo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Miguel Hidalgo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Miguel Hidalgo?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Miguel Hidalgo. 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.