๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $335 in Sancti Spรญritus.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $579 in Sancti Spรญritus.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $824 in Sancti Spรญritus.
๐Living in Phuket is roughly 278% more expensive than Sancti Spรญritus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Sancti Spรญritus75% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Sancti Spรญritus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70เธฟ153
$6.98CUPย 167
-32.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37เธฟ1,482
$25.35CUPย 608
78.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43เธฟ275
$5.08CUPย 122
65.94%
Cappuccino
$2.93เธฟ95.6
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69เธฟ22.40
$0.98CUPย 23.56
-29.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37เธฟ11.99
$0.77CUPย 18.54
-51.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41เธฟ78.6
$3.01CUPย 72.3
-19.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72เธฟ122
$1.96CUPย 47.13
89.80%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sancti Spรญritus
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23เธฟ72.9
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.83เธฟ59.8
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17เธฟ70.8
$1.01CUPย 24.36
114.85%
Eggs
$2.21เธฟ72.3
$2.44CUPย 58.5
-9.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74เธฟ645
$4.06CUPย 97.6
386.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63เธฟ119
$5.04CUPย 121
-27.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53เธฟ442
$10.11CUPย 243
33.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28เธฟ107
$2.96CUPย 71.1
10.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61เธฟ52.6
$0.52CUPย 12.52
209.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41เธฟ78.6
$0.51CUPย 12.35
372.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08เธฟ68.1
$1.02CUPย 24.48
103.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53เธฟ49.93
$1.94CUPย 46.64
-21.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48เธฟ48.36
$1.99CUPย 47.68
-25.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99เธฟ32.29
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51เธฟ16.67
$1.02CUPย 24.40
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41เธฟ144
$1.98CUPย 47.63
122.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38เธฟ633
$13.19CUPย 317
46.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78เธฟ58.1
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71เธฟ88.6
$2.02CUPย 48.42
34.16%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
Sancti Spรญritus
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37เธฟ44.79
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39เธฟ372
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02เธฟ98.6
$1.03CUPย 24.71
193.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99เธฟ32.48
$1.01CUPย 24.33
-1.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10เธฟ461
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36เธฟ44.51
$2.03CUPย 48.71
-33.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2Kเธฟ921.1K
$50.9KCUPย 1.2M
-44.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kเธฟ1.1M
$69.2KCUPย 1.7M
-52.48%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sancti Spรญritus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122เธฟ3,975
$30.30CUPย 727
301.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57เธฟ443
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31เธฟ598
-
-
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sancti Spรญritus
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2เธฟ1,967
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14เธฟ560
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.69เธฟ284
-
-
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sancti Spรญritus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693เธฟ22.6K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7Kเธฟ512.3K
-
-
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sancti Spรญritus
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5เธฟ1,944
$24.72CUPย 593
140.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77เธฟ1,136
$15.19CUPย 365
128.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115เธฟ3,743
$40.28CUPย 967
184.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3เธฟ2,720
$30.34CUPย 728
174.52%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sancti Spรญritus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613เธฟ20.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437เธฟ14.3K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094เธฟ68.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509เธฟ49.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749เธฟ122.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616เธฟ85.4K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sancti Spรญritus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508เธฟ16.6K
$19.63CUPย 471
2488.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Sancti Spรญritus: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ฐPhuket pays 2488% 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: $45.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Sancti Spรญritus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $159 per month, with Sancti Spรญritus 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 Sancti Spรญritus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sancti Spรญritus cheaper than Phuket?
Sancti Spรญritus is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 278% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sancti Spรญritus?
Phuket pays 2488% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Sancti Spรญritus?
Supermarket bills run roughly 84% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Sancti Spรญritus?
Dining out is cheaper in Sancti Spรญritus โ a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Sancti Spรญritus?
At $335 in Sancti Spรญritus versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sancti Spรญritus but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sancti Spรญritus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sancti Spรญritus more family-friendly?
For families, Sancti Spรญritus 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 Sancti Spรญritus?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sancti Spรญritus 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 Sancti Spรญritus gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 278% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.