๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,408 in San Marco Argentano.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $2,164 in San Marco Argentano.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,306 in Phuket versus $2,921 in San Marco Argentano.
๐Living in Phuket costs roughly 11% less than in San Marco Argentano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 7% below, San Marco Argentano is 5% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59เธฟ147
$17.51โฌ14.90
-73.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83เธฟ1,501
$57.0โฌ48.53
-17.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70เธฟ279
$11.76โฌ10.01
-26.02%
Cappuccino
$2.92เธฟ93.7
$1.37โฌ1.17
113.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68เธฟ21.92
$1.18โฌ1.00
-42.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40เธฟ12.70
$0.56โฌ0.48
-28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51เธฟ80.4
$2.27โฌ1.93
10.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80เธฟ122
$3.54โฌ3.02
7.34%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16เธฟ69.3
$1.49โฌ1.27
44.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88เธฟ60.3
$1.18โฌ1.00
59.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16เธฟ69.2
$2.24โฌ1.91
-3.57%
Eggs
$2.22เธฟ71.2
$3.22โฌ2.74
-31.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57เธฟ627
$5.65โฌ4.81
246.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80เธฟ122
$5.92โฌ5.03
-35.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41เธฟ430
$11.45โฌ9.74
17.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26เธฟ104
$1.70โฌ1.45
91.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61เธฟ51.7
$1.56โฌ1.33
3.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31เธฟ74.0
$1.43โฌ1.22
61.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06เธฟ66.0
$1.75โฌ1.49
17.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61เธฟ51.5
$1.15โฌ0.98
40.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44เธฟ46.26
$1.17โฌ1.00
23.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03เธฟ33.01
$0.92โฌ0.78
11.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48เธฟ15.39
$0.47โฌ0.40
2.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50เธฟ144
$5.72โฌ4.87
-21.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18เธฟ615
$4.67โฌ3.97
310.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82เธฟ58.4
$1.15โฌ0.98
58.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69เธฟ86.2
$2.28โฌ1.94
17.98%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
San Marco Argentano
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38เธฟ44.16
$1.70โฌ1.44
-18.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76เธฟ377
$42.62โฌ36.27
-72.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11เธฟ99.6
$6.88โฌ5.85
-54.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00เธฟ32.18
$1.52โฌ1.29
-34.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74เธฟ441
$58.6โฌ49.83
-76.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30เธฟ41.61
$1.96โฌ1.67
-33.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kเธฟ877.0K
$21.8Kโฌ18.6K
25.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kเธฟ1.1M
$25.0Kโฌ21.3K
32.10%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125เธฟ4,004
$114โฌ97.4
9.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74เธฟ440
$14.32โฌ12.18
-4.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61เธฟ597
$29.50โฌ25.10
-36.92%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6เธฟ1,941
$55.8โฌ47.51
8.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15เธฟ550
$22.99โฌ19.57
-25.40%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01เธฟ289
$9.02โฌ7.67
-0.11%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698เธฟ22.4K
$173โฌ147
303.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kเธฟ516.5K
$11.6Kโฌ9,889
38.65%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2เธฟ1,898
$79.2โฌ67.4
-25.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86เธฟ1,118
$29.45โฌ25.06
18.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114เธฟ3,662
$88.2โฌ75.1
29.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8เธฟ2,751
$106โฌ90.1
-18.94%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
San Marco Argentano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619เธฟ19.8K
$744โฌ633
-16.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437เธฟ14.0K
$576โฌ490
-24.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075เธฟ66.5K
$1,206โฌ1,027
72.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509เธฟ48.4K
$937โฌ797
61.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764เธฟ120.7K
$2,959โฌ2,518
27.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694เธฟ86.4K
$2,121โฌ1,805
27.01%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
San Marco Argentano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528เธฟ16.9K
$1,731โฌ1,473
-69.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
2
166.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for San Marco Argentano: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $744 in San Marco Argentano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐSan Marco Argentano pays 228% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $47 in Phuket vs $57 in San Marco Argentano. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $196, with San Marco Argentano 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 Marco Argentano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Marco Argentano cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or San Marco Argentano?
On paper, San Marco Argentano earns 228% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and San Marco Argentano?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $744 in San Marco Argentano. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $173 in San Marco Argentano. 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 San Marco Argentano?
Shoppers in San Marco Argentano pay roughly 49% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or San Marco Argentano?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,408 in San Marco Argentano, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in San Marco Argentano. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or San Marco Argentano more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in San Marco Argentano, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or San Marco Argentano?
Safety-wise, Phuket and San Marco Argentano 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 13% less than in San Marco Argentano. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.