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: $1,223 in Phuket versus $417 in Paysandú.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $725 in Paysandú.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,032 in Paysandú.

Living in Phuket is roughly 193% more expensive than Paysandú, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Paysandú 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

$19.89 UYU 802

-77.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

$36.71 UYU 1,480

27.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

$10.82 UYU 436

-21.53%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

$3.71 UYU 149

-16.98%

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

$0.68 ฿22.07

$1.69 UYU 68.3

-59.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

$1.32 UYU 53.1

-72.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

$3.80 UYU 153

-36.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

$1.04 UYU 41.88

110.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

$2.02 UYU 81.3

10.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

$3.19 UYU 129

-37.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

$1.68 UYU 67.8

-71.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

$1.24 UYU 49.91

14.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

$43.24 UYU 1,744

-72.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

$1.43 UYU 57.5

109.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

$1.51 UYU 60.8

-30.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

$10.87 UYU 438

27.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

$2.15 UYU 86.8

-40.00%

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

$28.0K ฿911.1K

$38.7K UYU 1.6M

-27.48%

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

$33.5K ฿1.1M

$39.7K UYU 1.6M

-15.52%

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

$122 ฿3,964

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

$13.93 ฿453

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

$33.71 UYU 1,359

81.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

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

$691 ฿22.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Paysandú: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $37.00 in Paysandú for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $55.0 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 193% in total monthly costs ($1,223 vs $417 including rent). Paysandú is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,835 in Phuket and $626 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 435% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,223 per month in Phuket versus $417 in Paysandú – a 193% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $417 in Paysandú versus $1,223 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 193% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.