Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and San Ignacio Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and San Ignacio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $712 in San Ignacio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $888 in San Ignacio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,065 in San Ignacio.

Living in Phuket is roughly 78% more expensive than San Ignacio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, San Ignacio 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.70 ฿153

$15.14 BZD 30.29

-68.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.37 ฿1,482

$44.68 BZD 89.4

1.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 ฿275

Cappuccino

$2.93 ฿95.6

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

$0.69 ฿22.40

$1.03 BZD 2.06

-33.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.99

$0.98 BZD 1.96

-62.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 ฿78.6

$3.09 BZD 6.17

-22.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿122

$4.07 BZD 8.13

-8.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿72.9

$3.01 BZD 6.03

-25.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿59.8

$2.43 BZD 4.85

-24.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ฿70.8

Eggs

$2.21 ฿72.3

$4.82 BZD 9.64

-54.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.74 ฿645

$15.15 BZD 30.31

30.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.96 BZD 7.93

-8.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.53 ฿442

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 ฿107

$4.89 BZD 9.79

-32.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.6

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.6

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.1

$3.04 BZD 6.09

-31.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.93

$1.49 BZD 2.97

2.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 ฿48.36

$1.51 BZD 3.03

-1.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.29

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.67

$1.02 BZD 2.03

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.41 ฿144

Wine (Bottle)

$19.38 ฿633

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.52 BZD 3.04

17.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.71 ฿88.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.37 ฿44.79

$2.02 BZD 4.05

-32.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿372

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿98.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.10 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 ฿44.51

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

$28.2K ฿921.1K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$122 ฿3,975

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

$13.57 ฿443

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.31 ฿598

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.2 ฿1,967

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿560

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 ฿284

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

$693 ฿22.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.7K ฿512.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,944

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.77 ฿1,136

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,743

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 ฿2,720

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$613 ฿20.0K

$604 BZD 1,208

1.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$437 ฿14.3K

$346 BZD 692

26.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,509 ฿49.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,749 ฿122.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,616 ฿85.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$508 ฿16.6K

$991 BZD 1,983

-48.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for San Ignacio: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $604 in San Ignacio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Ignacio pays 95% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $45.00 in San Ignacio. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $206, with San Ignacio 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 Ignacio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Ignacio is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, San Ignacio earns 95% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $604 in San Ignacio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in San Ignacio – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $712 in San Ignacio versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Ignacio but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes San Ignacio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.