😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $160 in San Ignacio de Velasco.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $266 in San Ignacio de Velasco.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $372 in San Ignacio de Velasco.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 681% more expensive than in San Ignacio de Velasco, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, San Ignacio de Velasco88% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
San Ignacio de Velasco
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
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-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
-
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🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
San Ignacio de Velasco
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$0.75BOB 8.08
201.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.74BOB 18.66
4.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$0.76BOB 8.19
196.05%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$3.40BOB 36.59
-33.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$3.54BOB 38.08
451.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$2.60BOB 27.94
40.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$4.31BOB 46.32
202.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.92BOB 31.41
10.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$2.21BOB 23.74
-26.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$1.44BOB 15.47
65.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$0.99BOB 10.67
105.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.49BOB 16.02
2.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$0.71BOB 7.66
111.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$0.60BOB 6.43
63.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$1.18BOB 12.66
-55.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$1.72BOB 18.44
158.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$7.17BOB 77.1
155.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.78BOB 19.10
4.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
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🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
San Ignacio de Velasco
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
San Ignacio de Velasco
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
San Ignacio de Velasco
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
San Ignacio de Velasco
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
San Ignacio de Velasco
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
San Ignacio de Velasco
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
San Ignacio de Velasco
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for San Ignacio de Velasco: July 14, 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 San Ignacio de Velasco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Ignacio de Velasco cheaper than Phuket?
San Ignacio de Velasco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 681% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,875 in Phuket and $240 in San Ignacio de Velasco 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.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in San Ignacio de Velasco?
Supermarket bills run roughly 78% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in San Ignacio de Velasco?
All in, you'll spend $1,250 per month in Phuket versus $160 in San Ignacio de Velasco – a 681% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in San Ignacio de Velasco?
At $160 in San Ignacio de Velasco versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Ignacio de Velasco but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes San Ignacio de Velasco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or San Ignacio de Velasco more family-friendly?
For families, San Ignacio de Velasco 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 Ignacio de Velasco?
Safety-wise, Phuket and San Ignacio de Velasco 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 Ignacio de Velasco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 681% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.