Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and San Juan de Pasto

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,294 a month against $1,463 in San Juan de Pasto, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
San Juan de Pasto, Colombia
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
San Juan de Pasto
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,463
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in San Juan de Pasto

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in San Juan de Pasto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Phuket versus $1,463 in San Juan de Pasto.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • San Juan de Pasto $1,463

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,204 in Phuket versus $2,144 in San Juan de Pasto.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • San Juan de Pasto $2,144

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,115 in Phuket versus $2,825 in San Juan de Pasto.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • San Juan de Pasto $2,825

Living in Phuket costs roughly 12% less than in San Juan de Pasto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 4% below, San Juan de Pasto is 8% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿147
$8.83 COP 28.5K
-50.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,083
$47.05 COP 151.9K
-31.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿292
$10.50 COP 33.9K
-17.14%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.3
$2.89 COP 9,347
-5.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.20
$1.42 COP 4,595
-34.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.75
$1.21 COP 3,898
-58.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.9
$3.44 COP 11.1K
-26.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿122
$3.64 COP 11.7K
-0.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.3
$1.61 COP 5,202
8.07%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.64
$2.39 COP 7,712
-39.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.4
$2.06 COP 6,654
-27.18%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.8
$3.46 COP 11.2K
-37.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿640
$7.16 COP 23.1K
166.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
$10.11 COP 32.7K
-66.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿365
$11.84 COP 38.2K
-7.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿98.6
$3.75 COP 12.1K
-21.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.7
$1.37 COP 4,424
23.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.6
$1.71 COP 5,533
28.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.2
$1.86 COP 6,010
13.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.90
$1.79 COP 5,794
-18.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿45.87
$1.72 COP 5,566
-20.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿36.07
$1.03 COP 3,321
4.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.29
$1.32 COP 4,253
-58.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿148
$4.72 COP 15.2K
-6.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿612
$12.60 COP 40.7K
44.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.4
$1.27 COP 4,113
39.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿96.6
$2.61 COP 8,421
10.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.53
$1.11 COP 3,586
30.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,840
$66.9 COP 216.0K
-17.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿50.7
$1.63 COP 5,267
-7.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿26.01
$2.09 COP 6,752
-62.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿129
$7.85 COP 25.4K
-51.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.87
$1.29 COP 4,159
15.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿901.3K
$39.0K COP 126.1M
-31.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿883.4K
$33.3K COP 107.5M
-20.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,280
$129 COP 415.6K
-24.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿379
$13.90 COP 44.9K
-18.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿576
$30.01 COP 96.9K
-42.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,291
$33.00 COP 106.6K
107.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿366
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿249
$7.84 COP 25.3K
-5.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.8K
$581 COP 1.9M
-8.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿629.7K
$13.9K COP 44.8M
35.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,068
$93.9 COP 303.2K
-34.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿947
$49.34 COP 159.3K
-42.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,219
$122 COP 394.3K
-21.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,911
$94.9 COP 306.4K
-8.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.2K
$780 COP 2.5M
-7.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.1K
$546 COP 1.8M
-6.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.4K
$1,459 COP 4.7M
33.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿46.8K
$796 COP 2.6M
75.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿140.6K
$2,112 COP 6.8M
98.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿110.6K
$1,582 COP 5.1M
108.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
San Juan de Pasto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
12
-53.58%

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

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for San Juan de Pasto: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
San Juan de Pasto
$546 7.2% $37
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
San Juan de Pasto
$278 4.3% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
San Juan de Pasto
$173 36.7% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
San Juan de Pasto
$162 32.1% $39
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
San Juan de Pasto
$172 43.8% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
San Juan de Pasto
$49 41.5% $35
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
San Juan de Pasto
$83 26.3% $17

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Phuket and $780 in San Juan de Pasto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $47 in San Juan de Pasto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $278 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇨🇴 San Juan de Pasto
🕒 Local time
00:21 12:21 AM
12:21 12:21 PM
12 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
392,930
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.53 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.66 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,627 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket San Juan de Pasto 18,900 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • San Juan de Pasto

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Juan de Pasto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than San Juan de Pasto?
Phuket is about 12% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $1,940 in Phuket and $2,194 in San Juan de Pasto 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 San Juan de Pasto?
Rent for a central apartment: $721 in Phuket versus $780 in San Juan de Pasto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $530 in Phuket versus $581 in San Juan de Pasto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in San Juan de Pasto?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in San Juan de Pasto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is it better to live in Phuket or in San Juan de Pasto?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in San Juan de Pasto. 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

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?