Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Santa Cruz del Seibo Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Santa Cruz del Seibo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,224 in Phuket versus $663 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Phuket versus $1,058 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,846 in Phuket versus $1,452 in Santa Cruz del Seibo.

Living in Phuket is roughly 85% more expensive than in Santa Cruz del Seibo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 9% lower, Santa Cruz del Seibo 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53 ฿151
$8.30 DOP 493
-45.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.04 ฿1,069
$42.43 DOP 2,518
-24.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.73 ฿291
$4.96 DOP 294
76.01%
Cappuccino
$2.80 ฿93.6
$1.89 DOP 112
48.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 ฿27.71
$0.74 DOP 43.71
12.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 ฿15.25
$0.38 DOP 22.81
21.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.1
$2.52 DOP 150
-3.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$4.16 DOP 247
-7.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ฿59.7
$1.25 DOP 74.4
43.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$1.77 DOP 105
-17.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.7
$1.60 DOP 95.2
-5.00%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿71.0
$1.54 DOP 91.6
38.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.41 ฿648
$6.47 DOP 384
200.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.38 ฿113
$3.60 DOP 214
-6.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.08 ฿370
$4.92 DOP 292
125.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 ฿99.0
$3.90 DOP 232
-23.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.3
$1.47 DOP 87.3
12.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.26 ฿75.4
$3.40 DOP 202
-33.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 ฿72.8
$2.19 DOP 130
-0.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.6
$3.52 DOP 209
-56.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.61
$3.01 DOP 179
-55.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.51
$0.96 DOP 56.9
16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$1.69 DOP 101
-67.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.47 ฿149
$4.86 DOP 288
-8.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿627
$17.06 DOP 1,012
10.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.3
$3.11 DOP 185
-42.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 ฿94.5
$3.55 DOP 210
-20.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 ฿77.6
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.09 ฿771
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$2.60 DOP 154
16.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ฿34.34
$3.35 DOP 199
-69.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿128
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.28
$1.42 DOP 84.1
2.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ฿915.3K
$15.1K DOP 897.0K
81.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿912.3K
$26.0K DOP 1.5M
5.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 ฿3,378
$97.8 DOP 5,805
3.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.07 ฿369
$27.18 DOP 1,613
-59.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.06 ฿569
$39.52 DOP 2,345
-56.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.3 ฿1,778
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.88 ฿363
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.56 ฿252
$5.22 DOP 310
44.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.4K
$152 DOP 9,048
262.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.3K
$5,488 DOP 325.7K
109.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 ฿2,108
$27.16 DOP 1,612
132.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿954
$47.36 DOP 2,811
-39.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.5 ฿3,253
$63.2 DOP 3,750
54.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.7 ฿2,926
$66.8 DOP 3,963
31.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$736 ฿24.6K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$480 ฿16.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,065 ฿68.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,234 ฿41.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,556 ฿118.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,534 ฿84.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11
-49.36%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 21, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz del Seibo: September 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $42.00 in Santa Cruz del Seibo. Groceries flip the comparison at $271 vs $245, with Santa Cruz del Seibo 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 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, Getting Around. The 85% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,836 in Phuket and $994 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $552 in Phuket versus $152 in Santa Cruz del Seibo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Santa Cruz del Seibo?
Dining out is cheaper in Santa Cruz del Seibo – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Santa Cruz del Seibo?
At $663 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $1,224 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 85% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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