😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,240 in San Luis Rio Colorado.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,963 in San Luis Rio Colorado.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $2,687 in San Luis Rio Colorado.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 2% more expensive than in San Luis Rio Colorado, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, San Luis Rio Colorado10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
San Luis Rio Colorado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿154
$12.69MX$215
-63.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,065
$36.65MX$622
-12.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿287
$10.49MX$178
-17.25%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.8
$4.59MX$78.0
-36.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.89
$1.43MX$24.22
-41.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.16
$1.26MX$21.39
-61.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.0
$3.57MX$60.6
-30.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
$6.92MX$117
-46.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
San Luis Rio Colorado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.3
$1.96MX$33.26
-3.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.54
$3.15MX$53.4
-55.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.6
$1.93MX$32.81
-16.06%
Eggs
$2.24฿74.1
$3.45MX$58.5
-35.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿656
$8.47MX$144
134.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
$7.94MX$135
-56.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿376
$12.94MX$220
-12.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.8
$3.02MX$51.2
-3.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.0
$1.71MX$29.03
0.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.1
$2.07MX$35.18
9.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.4
$1.74MX$29.44
22.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.72
$1.60MX$27.13
-8.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.92
$1.92MX$32.55
-26.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.25
$1.64MX$27.82
-32.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.76
$1.14MX$19.39
-47.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$4.84MX$82.1
-10.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿615
$8.64MX$147
115.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.5
$2.35MX$39.92
-23.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.0
$4.25MX$72.0
-30.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
San Luis Rio Colorado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.2
$0.70MX$11.82
221.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿776
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$3.05MX$51.7
1.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.56
$2.32MX$39.29
-53.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿128
$11.99MX$203
-67.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.16
$1.61MX$27.26
-11.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿918.0K
$22.9KMX$388.3K
21.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿891.5K
$26.1KMX$443.1K
3.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
San Luis Rio Colorado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,462
$51.7MX$877
102.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿376
$36.04MX$611
-68.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿580
$31.64MX$537
-44.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
San Luis Rio Colorado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,795
$36.14MX$613
50.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿378
$21.97MX$373
-47.93%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿257
$7.12MX$121
9.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
San Luis Rio Colorado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$225MX$3,816
156.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿382.7K
$4,895MX$83.0K
136.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
San Luis Rio Colorado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,103
$57.9MX$983
9.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿961
$49.18MX$834
-40.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,179
$111MX$1,881
-13.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,974
$74.5MX$1,263
20.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
San Luis Rio Colorado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.2K
$655MX$11.1K
11.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
$416MX$7,049
20.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.2K
$1,106MX$18.8K
92.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.4K
$825MX$14.0K
51.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.8K
$1,942MX$32.9K
82.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.6K
$1,230MX$20.9K
113.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
San Luis Rio Colorado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
12.07
-53.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for San Luis Rio Colorado: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $655 in San Luis Rio Colorado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $37.00 in San Luis Rio Colorado for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $285 per month, with Phuket 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 Luis Rio Colorado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Luis Rio Colorado cheaper than Phuket?
San Luis Rio Colorado is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $1,860 in San Luis Rio Colorado 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 Luis Rio Colorado?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $655 in San Luis Rio Colorado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $225 in San Luis Rio Colorado. 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 Luis Rio Colorado?
Dining out is cheaper in San Luis Rio Colorado – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in San Luis Rio Colorado?
At $1,240 in San Luis Rio Colorado versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San Luis Rio Colorado but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes San Luis Rio Colorado the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or San Luis Rio Colorado more family-friendly?
For families, San Luis Rio Colorado 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 Luis Rio Colorado?
Safety-wise, Phuket and San Luis Rio Colorado 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 Luis Rio Colorado gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.