Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Miguel Hidalgo Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Miguel Hidalgo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $1,105 in Miguel Hidalgo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $1,906 in Miguel Hidalgo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $2,707 in Miguel Hidalgo, rent included.

Phuket costs about 13% more than Miguel Hidalgo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Phuket and Miguel Hidalgo are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Miguel Hidalgo 17% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$10.73 MX$187
-57.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,553
$82.1 MX$1,430
-43.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿297
$7.96 MX$139
11.06%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$3.29 MX$57.2
-6.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.40
$1.24 MX$21.53
-41.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.39
$0.99 MX$17.16
-59.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$2.31 MX$40.21
5.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$5.96 MX$104
-36.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.48 MX$25.82
52.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$2.65 MX$46.07
-31.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.56 MX$27.24
44.23%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.5
$2.31 MX$40.31
-2.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$7.81 MX$136
149.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$8.84 MX$154
-58.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$10.49 MX$183
24.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$2.56 MX$44.64
26.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$1.40 MX$24.43
15.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.1
$1.76 MX$30.66
35.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$1.64 MX$28.53
23.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$1.82 MX$31.77
-15.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.93 MX$33.52
-22.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.91
$1.25 MX$21.80
-21.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.39
$1.02 MX$17.82
-49.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$4.16 MX$72.4
6.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$10.67 MX$186
71.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$1.60 MX$27.81
16.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.1
$2.85 MX$49.66
-5.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.46
$0.66 MX$11.48
113.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿393
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$2.65 MX$46.21
17.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.06
$1.58 MX$27.53
-34.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿474
$8.45 MX$147
66.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.10
$1.28 MX$22.23
2.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿935.4K
$21.5K MX$374.3K
29.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$22.5K MX$392.6K
47.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,118
$30.26 MX$527
304.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$22.26 MX$388
-38.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$30.35 MX$529
-38.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,034
$45.75 MX$797
32.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿571
$15.74 MX$274
7.88%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$4.53 MX$78.9
100.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$207 MX$3,600
241.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.5K
$3,620 MX$63.0K
336.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,969
$72.3 MX$1,260
-19.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,189
$40.31 MX$702
-12.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,883
$90.4 MX$1,574
27.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,816
$78.0 MX$1,358
7.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.0K
$515 MX$8,970
21.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$403 MX$7,012
10.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.6K
$915 MX$15.9K
122.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$755 MX$13.1K
97.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.1K
$1,860 MX$32.4K
87.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$1,240 MX$21.6K
107.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Miguel Hidalgo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$559 MX$9,742
-10.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
11.48
-53.57%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Miguel Hidalgo: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $515 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 12% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $82.0 in Miguel Hidalgo. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Phuket vs $254 in Miguel Hidalgo – so Miguel Hidalgo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 13%, 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 $1,875 per month in Phuket and $1,657 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 $46.00 in Phuket and $82.0 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?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
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 $1,105, than in Phuket at $1,250. 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.

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