Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Rionegro Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Rionegro

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,434 in Rionegro.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $2,245 in Rionegro.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $3,056 in Rionegro.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 14% less than in Rionegro, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Rionegro is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Rionegro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$7.95 COP 25.2K
-44.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,074
$48.93 COP 155.4K
-34.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿297
$9.77 COP 31.0K
-8.60%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.4
$3.03 COP 9,629
-4.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.30
$1.85 COP 5,867
-52.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.01
$1.50 COP 4,763
-68.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.3
$3.16 COP 10.0K
-25.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$5.67 COP 18.0K
-34.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Rionegro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.1
$1.43 COP 4,553
30.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.81
$2.49 COP 7,904
-40.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.7
$1.77 COP 5,635
-12.43%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.0
$2.88 COP 9,145
-27.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿652
$10.07 COP 32.0K
94.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$10.18 COP 32.3K
-66.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿379
$14.10 COP 44.8K
-19.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.3
$4.06 COP 12.9K
-26.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.62 COP 5,131
3.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.5
$2.27 COP 7,191
-2.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.0
$2.24 COP 7,127
-3.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.8
$2.02 COP 6,411
-24.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.55
$1.54 COP 4,884
-12.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.57
$1.16 COP 3,680
-2.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.19
$1.32 COP 4,176
-58.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$3.93 COP 12.5K
8.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿635
$13.81 COP 43.8K
38.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.2
$1.73 COP 5,499
2.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.6
$2.78 COP 8,828
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Rionegro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.2
$0.99 COP 3,148
125.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿757
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$1.37 COP 4,336
121.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.06
$2.16 COP 6,872
-52.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$8.61 COP 27.3K
-54.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.63
$1.32 COP 4,176
12.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿884.9K
$28.2K COP 89.5M
-5.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿899.8K
$36.0K COP 114.4M
-24.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Rionegro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,411
$179 COP 567.3K
-42.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿377
$13.98 COP 44.4K
-18.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿579
$28.72 COP 91.2K
-39.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Rionegro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,734
$40.17 COP 127.5K
29.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿369
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿256
$6.65 COP 21.1K
15.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Rionegro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$793 COP 2.5M
-29.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.0K
$9,374 COP 29.8M
22.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Rionegro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,098
$87.9 COP 279.1K
-28.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿983
$60.4 COP 191.9K
-51.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,263
$140 COP 445.6K
-30.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,946
$103 COP 327.4K
-14.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Rionegro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$722 COP 2.3M
2.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$440 COP 1.4M
9.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.1K
$1,075 COP 3.4M
95.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.8K
$1,018 COP 3.2M
20.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.4K
$2,264 COP 7.2M
59.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.7K
$1,751 COP 5.6M
48.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Rionegro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
10.94
-49.09%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Rionegro: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $722 in Rionegro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $49.00 in Rionegro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $303 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 Rionegro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rionegro cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $2,151 in Rionegro 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Rionegro?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $722 in Rionegro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $793 in Rionegro. 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 Rionegro?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $49.00 in Rionegro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Rionegro?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,434 in Rionegro, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Rionegro. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Rionegro more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Rionegro, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Rionegro?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Rionegro 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 16% less than in Rionegro. 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