Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and San Martino in Rio Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and San Martino in Rio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,733 in San Martino in Rio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,649 in San Martino in Rio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,566 in San Martino in Rio.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 27% less than in San Martino in Rio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, San Martino in Rio is 29% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$17.47 €15.04
-73.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$82.6 €71.1
-45.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$11.78 €10.14
-28.44%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$2.02 €1.74
45.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$3.52 €3.03
-80.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$1.43 €1.23
-74.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$5.67 €4.88
-57.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$5.63 €4.85
-33.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.52 €1.31
46.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$2.09 €1.80
-12.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.80 €1.55
20.56%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$3.84 €3.30
-42.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$19.34 €16.65
2.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$10.56 €9.10
-65.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$20.73 €17.85
-34.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$2.00 €1.72
64.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.98 €1.70
-18.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.65 €2.28
-9.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$3.37 €2.90
-38.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$2.32 €2.00
-34.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$1.63 €1.41
-9.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$1.02 €0.88
-2.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.54 €0.47
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$7.13 €6.14
-38.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$7.03 €6.06
175.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.81 €1.56
-1.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$3.07 €2.65
-11.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
San Martino in Rio
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$1.78 €1.54
-23.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$42.84 €36.88
-73.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$5.66 €4.87
-46.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$1.00 €0.86
-1.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$23.03 €19.83
-38.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$2.10 €1.81
-35.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$29.2K €25.1K
-3.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$39.6K €34.1K
-17.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$231 €199
-47.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$11.61 €9.99
16.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$27.98 €24.09
-34.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$54.1 €46.61
11.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$22.89 €19.71
-25.12%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$10.63 €9.15
-18.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$523 €450
32.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$8,002 €6,889
96.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$88.2 €75.9
-32.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$38.53 €33.17
-9.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$123 €106
-6.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$113 €97.6
-26.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
San Martino in Rio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$750 €645
-18.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$572 €493
-23.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$1,213 €1,044
72.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$918 €791
64.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$2,764 €2,379
35.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$2,040 €1,756
28.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
San Martino in Rio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
4.17
27.82%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for San Martino in Rio: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $750 in San Martino in Rio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $83.0 in San Martino in Rio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $331 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 Martino in Rio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Martino in Rio cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 37% 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 $2,600 in San Martino in Rio 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 Martino in Rio?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $750 in San Martino in Rio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $523 in San Martino in Rio. 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 Martino in Rio?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in San Martino in Rio. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or San Martino in Rio?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,733 in San Martino in Rio, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in San Martino in Rio. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or San Martino in Rio more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in San Martino in Rio, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or San Martino in Rio?
Safety-wise, Phuket and San Martino in Rio 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 – expenses run 37% less than in San Martino in Rio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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