🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,510 in Pontevedra.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,210 in Pontevedra.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $2,911 in Pontevedra.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 17% less than in Pontevedra, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Pontevedra is 13% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Pontevedra
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$15.38€13.45
-70.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,554
$58.4€51.1
-20.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿298
$9.91€8.67
-10.80%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$1.91€1.67
60.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.42
$2.48€2.17
-70.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.40
$1.71€1.49
-76.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$2.87€2.51
-15.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$3.43€3.00
10.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Pontevedra
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.10€0.96
105.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.33€1.16
36.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.74€1.52
29.31%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.6
$2.84€2.49
-20.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$12.67€11.08
53.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$7.96€6.97
-54.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$12.18€10.66
7.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.42€2.11
33.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$2.70€2.36
-40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.2
$1.94€1.70
22.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.2
$2.61€2.28
-22.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.61€1.41
-4.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.55€1.36
-3.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.93
$1.23€1.07
-20.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.40
$0.80€0.70
-35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$6.50€5.69
-31.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$4.64€4.06
294.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.60€1.40
16.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.2
$2.56€2.24
4.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Pontevedra
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.49
$2.07€1.81
-31.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿394
$28.37€24.83
-58.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$4.46€3.91
-30.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.08
$1.21€1.05
-14.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿475
$19.69€17.23
-28.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.13
$1.81€1.58
-27.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿936.0K
$39.3K€34.4K
-29.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$29.3K€25.7K
13.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Pontevedra
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,120
$169€148
-27.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$20.93€18.31
-35.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$35.25€30.84
-46.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Pontevedra
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,035
$68.1€59.5
-11.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿572
$23.24€20.33
-26.94%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$9.02€7.89
0.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Pontevedra
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$292€256
141.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.8K
$7,002€6,126
125.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Pontevedra
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,970
$92.4€80.9
-36.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,190
$35.99€31.49
-1.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,885
$90.6€79.3
27.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,818
$107€93.6
-21.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Pontevedra
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.1K
$648€567
-3.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$521€456
-14.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.7K
$960€840
112.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$748€655
99.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.2K
$2,778€2,431
25.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$2,526€2,210
1.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Pontevedra
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$1,463€1,280
-65.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
3.98
33.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Pontevedra: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $648 in Pontevedra. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pontevedra pays 193% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $58.0 in Pontevedra. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $251, with Pontevedra cheaper for home cooking.
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 Pontevedra: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pontevedra cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Pontevedra?
On paper, salaries run 193% lower in Pontevedra. 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 Pontevedra?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $648 in Pontevedra. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $292 in Pontevedra. 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 Pontevedra?
Shoppers in Pontevedra pay roughly 15% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Pontevedra?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,510 in Pontevedra, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Pontevedra. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Pontevedra more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Pontevedra, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Pontevedra?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Pontevedra 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Pontevedra. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.