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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $437 in San Lorenzo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $718 in San Lorenzo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $999 in San Lorenzo.

Living in Phuket is roughly 186% more expensive than in San Lorenzo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, San Lorenzo 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$4.41 ₲26.6K

3.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$26.20 ₲158.0K

76.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

$4.66 ₲28.1K

89.70%

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.90 ₲11.5K

61.05%

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

$0.73 ฿24.40

$0.83 ₲5,033

-12.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$0.46 ₲2,779

-13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$1.46 ₲8,815

66.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$1.92 ₲11.6K

96.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$0.82 ₲4,959

175.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$0.52 ₲3,158

248.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$0.81 ₲4,876

177.78%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$1.64 ₲9,889

37.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$5.98 ₲36.0K

226.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

$2.90 ₲17.5K

25.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$6.00 ₲36.2K

117.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$1.68 ₲10.1K

92.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$0.71 ₲4,298

128.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$0.77 ₲4,619

209.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$1.07 ₲6,428

89.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.69 ₲4,149

121.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$0.77 ₲4,652

94.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$0.42 ₲2,519

133.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.36 ₲2,197

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$1.42 ₲8,538

212.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$3.72 ₲22.4K

392.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$0.58 ₲3,504

220.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$0.76 ₲4,576

252.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.48 ₲2,892

193.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$34.45 ₲207.8K

-66.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$0.60 ₲3,610

418.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$0.74 ₲4,486

40.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$3.92 ₲23.7K

259.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$0.82 ₲4,944

59.76%

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

$27.8K ฿935.4K

$14.8K ₲89.2M

88.10%

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

$33.2K ฿1.1M

$23.7K ₲143.0M

40.06%

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

$122 ฿4,118

$41.74 ₲251.8K

193.34%

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

$13.59 ฿457

$13.75 ₲82.9K

-1.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

$15.43 ₲93.1K

21.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

$14.90 ₲89.9K

305.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

$8.75 ₲52.7K

94.06%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

$4.37 ₲26.3K

107.55%

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

$706 ฿23.8K

$162 ₲974.7K

337.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

$3,227 ₲19.5M

389.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

$48.87 ₲294.7K

19.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

$30.72 ₲185.2K

15.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

$72.9 ₲439.8K

58.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

$48.42 ₲292.0K

72.92%

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

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

10.17

-47.59%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for San Lorenzo: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $26.00 in San Lorenzo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $116 per month, with San Lorenzo 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 San Lorenzo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Lorenzo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 186% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,875 in Phuket and $655 in San Lorenzo 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.

Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $162 in San Lorenzo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 149% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $437 in San Lorenzo versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San Lorenzo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes San Lorenzo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, San Lorenzo 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 Lorenzo 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 Lorenzo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 186% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.