😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $595 in San Antonio.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $991 in San Antonio.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,387 in San Antonio.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 107% more expensive than in San Antonio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, San Antonio56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
San Antonio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$7.05₲41.9K
-37.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,073
$42.34₲251.9K
-23.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
$6.72₲40.0K
32.89%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.3
$3.26₲19.4K
-11.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.29
$1.04₲6,214
-15.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.01
$0.62₲3,694
-22.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.2
$1.92₲11.4K
22.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$1.87₲11.1K
98.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
San Antonio
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.1
$1.26₲7,493
48.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.78
$1.46₲8,708
0.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$1.34₲7,961
15.67%
Eggs
$2.10฿69.9
$2.37₲14.1K
-11.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿652
$9.50₲56.5K
106.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$4.94₲29.4K
-30.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿379
$9.90₲58.9K
14.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.3
$2.91₲17.3K
2.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.1
$1.24₲7,397
35.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
$1.16₲6,874
90.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿71.9
$2.27₲13.5K
-4.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.7
$1.29₲7,696
17.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.52
$1.26₲7,497
6.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.55
$0.84₲4,986
34.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.18
$0.68₲4,028
-19.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$2.23₲13.3K
91.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$8.67₲51.6K
120.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$1.34₲7,983
32.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.6
$1.66₲9,860
67.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
San Antonio
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.2
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿756
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.46₲8,706
107.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.04
$1.46₲8,688
-30.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿129
$10.25₲61.0K
-62.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.60
$1.20₲7,118
24.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿884.4K
$16.8K₲100.2M
57.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿899.3K
$34.0K₲202.0M
-20.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
San Antonio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,409
$48.70₲289.8K
110.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$16.61₲98.9K
-31.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿579
$21.00₲125.0K
-17.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
San Antonio
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,733
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$8.45₲50.3K
-8.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
San Antonio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$176₲1.0M
218.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿382.8K
$5,741₲34.2M
100.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
San Antonio
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,097
$61.9₲368.4K
1.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿982
$55.9₲332.3K
-47.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,261
$103₲610.9K
-4.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,944
$68.7₲408.9K
28.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
San Antonio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
San Antonio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
10.15
-45.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for San Antonio: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $42.00 in San Antonio. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $208, with San Antonio 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 San Antonio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Antonio cheaper than Phuket?
San Antonio is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 107% 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 $893 in San Antonio 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $176 in San Antonio. 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 San Antonio?
Dining out is cheaper in San Antonio – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. 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 San Antonio?
At $595 in San Antonio versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Antonio but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes San Antonio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or San Antonio more family-friendly?
For families, San Antonio 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 San Antonio?
Safety-wise, Phuket and San Antonio 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 San Antonio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.