Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Pachuca Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Pachuca

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $876 in Pachuca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,437 in Pachuca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,997 in Pachuca.

Living in Phuket is roughly 44% more expensive than Pachuca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Pachuca 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$4.79 MX$82.9
-1.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$24.63 MX$426
84.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$7.75 MX$134
8.77%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$2.85 MX$49.31
2.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$1.14 MX$19.76
-39.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.76 MX$13.19
-51.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.55 MX$26.82
55.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$3.24 MX$56.0
14.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.43 MX$24.75
55.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$2.88 MX$49.84
-36.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.83 MX$31.58
18.58%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$2.51 MX$43.49
-11.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$7.25 MX$125
172.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$4.44 MX$76.7
-18.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$7.42 MX$128
82.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.93 MX$33.39
69.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.26 MX$21.73
27.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.46 MX$25.31
65.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$1.62 MX$28.09
28.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.46 MX$25.32
4.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$1.25 MX$21.70
18.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.89 MX$15.43
11.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.98 MX$16.98
-47.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$4.24 MX$73.4
4.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$8.60 MX$149
125.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.29 MX$22.35
37.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$2.51 MX$43.38
7.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.58 MX$10.05
136.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$26.08 MX$451
-56.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$2.55 MX$44.10
18.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$1.24 MX$21.45
-20.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$7.92 MX$137
78.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.32 MX$22.77
3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$18.5K MX$319.8K
52.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$21.1K MX$365.1K
55.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$52.2 MX$902
133.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$17.38 MX$301
-21.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$22.62 MX$391
-19.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$23.36 MX$404
157.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$10.41 MX$180
64.65%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$4.60 MX$79.5
88.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$161 MX$2,790
329.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$3,066 MX$53.0K
411.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$53.2 MX$920
11.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$40.42 MX$699
-13.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$94.4 MX$1,633
21.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$75.1 MX$1,299
10.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$385 MX$6,651
59.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$266 MX$4,599
64.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$726 MX$12.6K
188.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$668 MX$11.5K
126.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$770 MX$13.3K
386.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$676 MX$11.7K
286.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$695 MX$12.0K
-26.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
10.75
-50.42%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Pachuca: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $385 in Pachuca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pachuca pays 37% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Pachuca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $209 per month, with Pachuca cheaper across the board.

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 Pachuca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pachuca cheaper than Phuket?
Pachuca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Pachuca?
On paper, Pachuca earns 37% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Pachuca?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $385 in Pachuca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $161 in Pachuca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Pachuca?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Pachuca?
At $876 in Pachuca versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pachuca but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Pachuca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Pachuca more family-friendly?
For families, Pachuca is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Pachuca?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Pachuca are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Pachuca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities