Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Paysandú Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Paysandú

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $419 in Paysandú.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $727 in Paysandú.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,036 in Paysandú.

Living in Phuket is roughly 202% more expensive than in Paysandú, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Paysandú 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$19.81 UYU 796

-77.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,521

$36.34 UYU 1,461

25.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿292

$11.21 UYU 451

-21.86%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.0

$3.59 UYU 144

-17.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.90

$1.73 UYU 69.4

-60.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.04

$1.36 UYU 54.8

-71.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.4

$3.95 UYU 159

-35.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.6

$1.02 UYU 41.11

110.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.6

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.9

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.0

$2.02 UYU 81.1

11.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿667

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿452

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿108

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿77.8

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$3.21 UYU 129

-35.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.54

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.86

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.09

$1.66 UYU 66.7

-71.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿620

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿61.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.28

$1.20 UYU 48.24

18.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿386

$43.23 UYU 1,738

-73.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$1.45 UYU 58.5

118.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.41

$1.55 UYU 62.2

-33.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿463

$11.16 UYU 449

24.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.84

$2.16 UYU 86.8

-37.96%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿927.1K

$38.8K UYU 1.6M

-28.31%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$38.7K UYU 1.6M

-13.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$123 ฿4,105

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.77 ฿459

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿611

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,025

$34.42 UYU 1,384

76.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿573

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿296

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$688 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿526.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,978

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,157

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,843

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,794

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿67.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿49.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Paysandú: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $36.00 in Paysandú for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $54.0 per month, with Paysandú 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 Paysandú: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Paysandú differ by about 202% in total monthly costs ($1,264 vs $419 including rent). Paysandú is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $628 in Paysandú to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 436% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $419 in Paysandú – a 202% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $419 in Paysandú versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Paysandú but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Paysandú the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Paysandú are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Paysandú gentler on the wallet – expenses run 202% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.