🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,535 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,324 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $3,114 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 19% less than in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Santa Maria Capua Vetere is 15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$11.46€10.04
-60.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$58.6€51.3
-21.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$11.75€10.29
-24.77%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$1.19€1.05
157.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$2.79€2.44
-73.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$1.45€1.27
-72.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$3.44€3.01
-29.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$5.15€4.51
-26.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$1.12€0.98
101.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$2.11€1.85
-14.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$2.28€1.99
-1.32%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$1.73€1.52
30.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$14.96€13.11
30.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$12.55€10.99
-70.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$17.60€15.41
-25.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$1.56€1.36
107.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.78€1.55
-8.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$1.80€1.57
32.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$2.30€2.01
-11.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.49€1.31
2.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.78€1.56
-15.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$1.57€1.38
-37.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.34€0.30
52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$5.95€5.21
-25.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$7.24€6.34
153.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.61€1.41
15.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$1.55€1.36
72.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$1.78€1.56
-20.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$44.14€38.66
-73.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$3.45€3.02
-9.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$2.13€1.87
-51.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$29.11€25.49
-51.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.96€1.72
-33.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$29.7K€26.0K
-6.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$28.0K€24.6K
18.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$185€162
-33.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$13.98€12.24
-2.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$31.30€27.41
-40.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$55.6€48.65
8.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$22.87€20.03
-25.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$9.02€7.90
0.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$614€538
15.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$4,173€3,654
278.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$67.9€59.5
-13.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$31.08€27.22
13.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$80.5€70.5
43.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$86.1€75.4
-2.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$763€668
-18.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$578€506
-23.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$1,225€1,073
66.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$941€824
58.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$2,661€2,331
30.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$1,834€1,606
40.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Santa Maria Capua Vetere
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$1,256€1,100
-60.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
4.93
8.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Santa Maria Capua Vetere: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $763 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Maria Capua Vetere pays 151% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $59.0 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $290 per month, with Phuket 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 Santa Maria Capua Vetere: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Maria Capua Vetere cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 23% 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, salaries run 151% lower in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. 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: $626 in Phuket versus $763 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 $706 in Phuket versus $614 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 in Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Santa Maria Capua Vetere?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,535 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 – expenses run 23% less than in Santa Maria Capua Vetere. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.