Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and PachucaCost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Pachuca
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $939 in Pachuca.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,567 in Pachuca.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,196 in Pachuca.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 31% more expensive than in Pachuca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Pachuca31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$5.09MX$87.8
-13.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$27.34MX$471
18.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$8.63MX$149
3.48%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$3.25MX$56.0
-10.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$1.27MX$21.82
-30.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$0.89MX$15.38
-46.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$1.71MX$29.45
37.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$3.41MX$58.8
9.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.59MX$27.48
17.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$2.84MX$48.92
-48.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$1.99MX$34.35
-22.11%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$2.81MX$48.50
-25.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$7.66MX$132
155.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$5.02MX$86.6
-31.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$8.26MX$142
37.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$2.15MX$37.08
38.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$1.37MX$23.69
22.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$1.65MX$28.37
33.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$1.76MX$30.41
22.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$1.63MX$28.11
-6.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$1.38MX$23.83
-2.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$0.93MX$16.10
21.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$1.01MX$17.40
-45.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$4.55MX$78.4
-6.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$8.91MX$154
114.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$1.47MX$25.37
21.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$2.73MX$47.15
1.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$0.62MX$10.76
259.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$29.61MX$511
-23.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$2.85MX$49.13
6.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$3.45MX$59.5
-70.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$11.60MX$200
-66.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.44MX$24.87
3.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$23.3KMX$401.3K
14.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$24.9KMX$430.0K
8.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$44.47MX$767
130.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$17.00MX$293
-33.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$24.08MX$415
-27.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$25.37MX$437
105.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$11.78MX$203
-6.03%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$4.80MX$82.7
60.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$177MX$3,052
216.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$2,842MX$49.0K
304.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$58.8MX$1,013
7.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$43.48MX$750
-32.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$104MX$1,787
-5.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$83.3MX$1,435
6.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$432MX$7,448
70.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$293MX$5,053
64.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$650MX$11.2K
223.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$742MX$12.8K
65.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$799MX$13.8K
352.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$694MX$12.0K
275.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Pachuca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$695MX$12.0K
-29.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
10.8
-48.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Pachuca: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $432 in Pachuca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pachuca pays 41% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Pachuca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $225 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, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Pachuca?
On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Pachuca. 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: $738 in Phuket versus $432 in Pachuca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $177 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 in Pachuca?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Pachuca?
At $939 in Pachuca versus $1,232 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 31% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.