ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,519 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $2,313 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,306 in Phuket versus $3,107 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 18% less than in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 7% below, Santa Maria Capua Vetere is 13% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59āļŋ147
$11.42âŽ9.72
-59.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83āļŋ1,501
$57.2âŽ48.67
-18.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70āļŋ279
$11.43âŽ9.73
-23.88%
Cappuccino
$2.92āļŋ93.7
$1.19âŽ1.01
145.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68āļŋ21.92
$2.82âŽ2.40
-75.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40āļŋ12.70
$1.48âŽ1.26
-72.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51āļŋ80.4
$3.40âŽ2.90
-26.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ122
$5.15âŽ4.38
-26.21%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16āļŋ69.3
$1.11âŽ0.95
94.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88āļŋ60.3
$2.07âŽ1.76
-9.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16āļŋ69.2
$2.34âŽ1.99
-7.69%
Eggs
$2.22āļŋ71.2
$1.69âŽ1.43
31.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57āļŋ627
$15.08âŽ12.83
29.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80āļŋ122
$12.20âŽ10.38
-68.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41āļŋ430
$18.01âŽ15.33
-25.54%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26āļŋ104
$1.55âŽ1.32
110.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.7
$1.77âŽ1.50
-9.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31āļŋ74.0
$1.78âŽ1.51
29.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06āļŋ66.0
$2.25âŽ1.91
-8.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.5
$1.47âŽ1.25
9.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44āļŋ46.26
$1.77âŽ1.50
-18.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.01
$1.53âŽ1.30
-32.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48āļŋ15.39
$0.34âŽ0.29
41.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50āļŋ144
$5.89âŽ5.01
-23.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18āļŋ615
$7.71âŽ6.56
148.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82āļŋ58.4
$1.68âŽ1.43
8.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69āļŋ86.2
$1.60âŽ1.36
68.12%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38āļŋ44.16
$1.79âŽ1.52
-22.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76āļŋ377
$42.92âŽ36.53
-72.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11āļŋ99.6
$3.52âŽ3.00
-11.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.18
$2.11âŽ1.79
-52.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74āļŋ441
$28.49âŽ24.25
-51.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.61
$2.06âŽ1.76
-36.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
$30.1KâŽ25.6K
-9.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$27.7KâŽ23.6K
19.06%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,004
$188âŽ160
-33.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74āļŋ440
$14.32âŽ12.19
-4.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61āļŋ597
$30.78âŽ26.19
-39.54%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6āļŋ1,941
$55.2âŽ46.99
9.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15āļŋ550
$23.27âŽ19.80
-26.30%
Cinema Ticket
$9.01āļŋ289
$8.78âŽ7.47
2.62%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.4K
$618âŽ526
12.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
$4,085âŽ3,476
294.41%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2āļŋ1,898
$68.3âŽ58.2
-13.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86āļŋ1,118
$31.30âŽ26.64
11.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114āļŋ3,662
$80.9âŽ68.9
41.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8āļŋ2,751
$88.2âŽ75.1
-2.77%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619āļŋ19.8K
$746âŽ635
-17.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437āļŋ14.0K
$568âŽ483
-23.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
$1,235âŽ1,051
68.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
$940âŽ800
60.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
$3,117âŽ2,653
20.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
$2,370âŽ2,017
13.67%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528āļŋ16.9K
$1,279âŽ1,089
-58.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.93
8.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Santa Maria Capua Vetere: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $746 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Santa Maria Capua Vetere pays 142% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47 in Phuket vs $57 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $290, with Santa Maria Capua Vetere 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 Maria Capua Vetere: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Maria Capua Vetere cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
On paper, Santa Maria Capua Vetere earns 142% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $746 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $618 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. 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 Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
Shoppers in Santa Maria Capua Vetere pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,519 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Santa Maria Capua Vetere more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Santa Maria Capua Vetere 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 â expenses run 22% less than in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.