Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and San Rafael, Argentina

Name: San Rafael
Address: San Rafael, AR

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,357 in San Rafael, rent and utilities included – about $950 less a year. The total is higher in San Rafael despite lower rent and utilities.

62

Cost of Living Index in Phuket
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Phuket Living Index
65

Cost of Living Index in San Rafael
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San Rafael Living Index

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Phuket

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,278

/mo nomad

San Rafael

🇦🇷 Argentina

$1,357

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in San Rafael

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 Rafael actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $1,357 in San Rafael.

Phuket $1,278
San Rafael $1,357

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $2,260 in San Rafael.

Phuket $2,216
San Rafael $2,260

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $3,163 in San Rafael.

Phuket $3,154
San Rafael $3,163

Living in Phuket costs roughly 6% less than in San Rafael, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.47 ฿151

$10.81 ARS 16.6K

-58.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.41 ฿1,093

$50.9 ARS 78.1K

-36.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.81 ฿297

$14.80 ARS 22.7K

-40.47%

Cappuccino

$2.83 ฿95.4

$4.47 ARS 6,851

-36.69%

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

$0.87 ฿29.40

$2.42 ARS 3,712

-64.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.65

$1.95 ARS 2,992

-74.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿86.3

$4.09 ARS 6,278

-37.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ฿124

$4.38 ARS 6,713

-15.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿55.9

$1.33 ARS 2,041

24.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿49.29

$2.21 ARS 3,394

-33.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$2.76 ARS 4,231

-45.65%

Eggs

$2.09 ฿70.5

$3.24 ARS 4,964

-35.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.07 ฿643

$14.53 ARS 22.3K

31.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ฿111

$6.42 ARS 9,846

-48.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.91 ฿368

$11.09 ARS 17.0K

-1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 ฿98.8

$2.36 ARS 3,614

24.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 ฿57.0

$2.15 ARS 3,302

-21.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.7

$1.29 ARS 1,984

74.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿70.0

$3.18 ARS 4,878

-34.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ฿51.0

$1.93 ARS 2,955

-21.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.51

$1.52 ARS 2,333

-9.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.95

$2.01 ARS 3,084

-46.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.50

$2.44 ARS 3,738

-78.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 ฿142

$2.71 ARS 4,162

54.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿634

$5.09 ARS 7,806

269.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿61.4

$1.76 ARS 2,702

3.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿95.8

$2.91 ARS 4,468

-2.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.45 ฿48.97

$1.00 ARS 1,531

45.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$56.7 ฿1,911

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ฿102

$1.97 ARS 3,016

53.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.32

$0.99 ARS 1,512

3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 ฿124

$4.97 ARS 7,621

-25.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 ฿49.75

$1.27 ARS 1,941

15.75%

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

$26.8K ฿903.2K

$27.1K ARS 41.6M

-1.18%

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

$26.7K ฿900.3K

$33.0K ARS 50.6M

-19.01%

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

$96.4 ฿3,250

$146 ARS 223.5K

-33.86%

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

$11.26 ฿380

$17.12 ARS 26.3K

-34.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.85 ฿568

$23.87 ARS 36.6K

-29.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 ฿2,268

$29.97 ARS 46.0K

124.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.73 ฿362

$17.67 ARS 27.1K

-39.28%

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 ฿253

$7.24 ARS 11.1K

3.59%

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

$476 ฿16.1K

$172 ARS 264.0K

176.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.3K ฿379.9K

$4,098 ARS 6.3M

174.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.4 ฿2,103

$126 ARS 193.0K

-50.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.41 ฿958

$141 ARS 216.0K

-79.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,180

$145 ARS 222.1K

-34.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.8 ฿2,894

$158 ARS 242.2K

-45.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ฿24.1K

$545 ARS 836.3K

31.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$491 ฿16.6K

$342 ARS 525.2K

43.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,927 ฿65.0K

$1,077 ARS 1.7M

78.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,431 ฿48.3K

$900 ARS 1.4M

59.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,175 ฿140.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,045 ฿102.7K

$1,277 ARS 2.0M

138.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-90.56%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Phuket

$491 38.4%

San Rafael

$342 25.2% 30.3% $149

Groceries & Markets

Phuket

$266 20.8%

San Rafael

$285 21% 7.1% $19

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Phuket

$124 9.7%

San Rafael

$187 13.8% 50% $62

Clothing & Footwear

Phuket

$122 9.5%

San Rafael

$256 18.9% 110% $134

Eating Out

Phuket

$122 9.5%

San Rafael

$231 17% 90% $109

Sport & Entertainment

Phuket

$82 6.4%

San Rafael

$44 3.3% 45.9% $38

Getting Around

Phuket

$71 5.5%

San Rafael

$11 * 0.8% 84.6% $60

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $545 in San Rafael. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $51 in San Rafael for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $285 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Phuket

🇦🇷 San Rafael

🕒 Local time

08:09 8:09 AM

22:09 10:09 PM

10 h behind Phuket

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

79,308

118,850

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Argentine Peso ARS $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.65 EUR

10,000 ARS = 6.52 USD

10,000 ARS = 5.82 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1,534 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,719 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.82 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Phuket San Rafael 16,750 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight

From you

Phuket
San Rafael

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 Rafael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is about 6% cheaper overall, especially in clothing, eating out, and groceries. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You’d need roughly $1,917 in Phuket and $2,035 in San Rafael 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $545 in San Rafael. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $172 in San Rafael. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32 versus $51 in San Rafael. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,500 a month, though Phuket gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and San Rafael are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.