Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Puente Alto Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Puente Alto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,243 in Phuket versus $150 in Puente Alto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Phuket versus $252 in Puente Alto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Phuket versus $354 in Puente Alto.

Living in Phuket is roughly 730% more expensive than in Puente Alto, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Puente Alto 89% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.37 ฿147

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.87 ฿1,103

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.39 ฿282

Cappuccino

$2.73 ฿91.8

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

$0.88 ฿29.59

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿124

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ฿61.5

$1.23 CLP 1,217

48.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ฿48.58

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.9

$1.38 CLP 1,364

14.49%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.4

$6.18 CLP 6,119

-66.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.37 ฿650

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿115

$5.06 CLP 5,010

-32.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.96 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 ฿101

$2.08 CLP 2,063

44.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.9

$1.58 CLP 1,563

3.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿74.1

$1.00 CLP 992

121.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.12 ฿71.2

$2.45 CLP 2,424

-13.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿49.34

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ฿44.37

$3.15 CLP 3,114

-58.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.93

$0.95 CLP 944

12.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.61

$1.67 CLP 1,653

-68.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿147

$3.16 CLP 3,131

38.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.59 ฿624

$2.09 CLP 2,068

789.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 ฿58.6

$1.05 CLP 1,039

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 ฿95.8

$2.10 CLP 2,083

36.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿76.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.98 ฿771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 ฿98.7

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.84

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 ฿129

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.96

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

$27.2K ฿912.2K

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

$26.6K ฿893.5K

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

$102 ฿3,420

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

$10.96 ฿368

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.89 ฿567

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ฿1,758

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.93 ฿367

Cinema Ticket

$7.52 ฿252

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

$547 ฿18.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿379.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 ฿2,122

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 ฿981

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.8 ฿3,282

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.7 ฿2,909

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$721 ฿24.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 ฿16.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,081 ฿69.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,194 ฿40.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,577 ฿120.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,541 ฿85.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$489 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 28, 2026

Last update for Puente Alto: September 28, 2026

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 Puente Alto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Puente Alto is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 730% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,865 in Phuket and $225 in Puente Alto 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 82% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,243 per month in Phuket versus $150 in Puente Alto – a 730% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $150 in Puente Alto versus $1,243 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Puente Alto but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Puente Alto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Puente Alto 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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Puente Alto 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 Puente Alto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 730% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.