Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Punto Fijo Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Punto Fijo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $992 in Punto Fijo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,696 in Punto Fijo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $2,400 in Punto Fijo.

Living in Phuket is roughly 28% more expensive than in Punto Fijo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Punto Fijo 28% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Punto Fijo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$14.72 VES 12.2K
-68.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,066
$80.3 VES 66.7K
-59.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.9
$2.31 VES 1,915
25.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.91
$1.46 VES 1,213
-42.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.17
$0.73 VES 606
-32.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.1
$1.94 VES 1,614
27.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$5.58 VES 4,637
-33.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Punto Fijo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$2.57 VES 2,138
-26.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.58
$2.47 VES 2,049
-42.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$3.42 VES 2,837
-52.63%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$6.34 VES 5,261
-64.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$6.12 VES 5,079
224.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$5.04 VES 4,185
-30.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$4.91 VES 4,073
131.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.9
$7.88 VES 6,547
-63.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$4.90 VES 4,072
-64.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.2
$5.06 VES 4,205
-55.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.5
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.77
$5.95 VES 4,942
-75.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.96
$4.97 VES 4,129
-71.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.29
$3.06 VES 2,544
-64.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.78
$1.49 VES 1,235
-59.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$3.94 VES 3,272
9.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.6
$1.99 VES 1,649
-9.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.1
$4.90 VES 4,071
-39.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Punto Fijo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.3
$1.24 VES 1,027
81.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿777
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿103
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.59
$6.85 VES 5,684
-84.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.20
$0.49 VES 404
191.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿892.4K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Punto Fijo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,466
$49.51 VES 41.1K
111.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿377
$9.96 VES 8,273
14.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$38.03 VES 31.6K
-53.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Punto Fijo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,797
$39.89 VES 33.1K
36.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Punto Fijo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.1K
$200 VES 166.0K
188.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿383.0K
$3,591 VES 3.0M
222.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Punto Fijo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,104
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿962
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,182
$34.76 VES 28.9K
176.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,977
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Punto Fijo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$405 VES 336.4K
80.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.6K
$294 VES 244.5K
70.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.3K
$794 VES 659.3K
167.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$612 VES 508.0K
104.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Punto Fijo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$203 VES 168.8K
149.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
0
-

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Punto Fijo: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $405 in Punto Fijo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 150% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $80.0 in Punto Fijo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $314 per month, with Phuket 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 Punto Fijo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Punto Fijo cheaper than Phuket?
Punto Fijo is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Punto Fijo?
Average pay runs 150% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Punto Fijo?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $405 in Punto Fijo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $200 in Punto Fijo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Punto Fijo?
Dining out is cheaper in Punto Fijo – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Punto Fijo?
At $992 in Punto Fijo versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Punto Fijo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Punto Fijo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Punto Fijo more family-friendly?
For families, Punto Fijo 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 Punto Fijo?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Punto Fijo 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 Punto Fijo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities