😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $125 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $196 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $267 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 883% more expensive than Santa Cruz del Seibo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Santa Cruz del Seibo91% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63฿151
$9.94DOP 588
-53.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84฿1,532
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿289
$4.94DOP 292
78.95%
Cappuccino
$3.00฿98.0
$2.05DOP 121
46.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74฿24.25
$1.01DOP 60.0
-26.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.95
$0.52DOP 30.93
-28.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61฿118
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿73.9
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.84฿60.1
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24฿73.4
-
-
Eggs
$2.32฿75.7
-
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67฿643
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿119
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10฿428
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.39฿111
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿53.7
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿79.0
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿66.4
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.56฿50.9
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.94
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02฿33.50
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.00
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿145
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88฿617
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75฿90.1
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40฿45.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48฿376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12฿102
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00฿32.67
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09฿461
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35฿44.19
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿888.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125฿4,087
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿444
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿606
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5฿2,010
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19฿300
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698฿22.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿509.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,889
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24฿1,152
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,699
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4฿2,825
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616฿20.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048฿67.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿48.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779฿123.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649฿86.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Santa Cruz del Seibo: April 26, 2026
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 Santa Cruz del Seibo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Cruz del Seibo cheaper than Phuket?
Santa Cruz del Seibo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 883% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $188 in Santa Cruz del Seibo 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Santa Cruz del Seibo?
At $125 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz del Seibo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz del Seibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Santa Cruz del Seibo more family-friendly?
For families, Santa Cruz del Seibo 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 Santa Cruz del Seibo?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Santa Cruz del Seibo 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 Santa Cruz del Seibo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 883% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.