Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Santiago de Compostela Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Santiago de Compostela

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,422 in Santiago de Compostela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,169 in Santiago de Compostela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $2,916 in Santiago de Compostela.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 12% less than in Santiago de Compostela, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Santiago de Compostela is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Santiago de Compostela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$13.69 €11.98
-66.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,554
$55.9 €48.94
-17.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿298
$9.96 €8.72
-11.24%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$1.88 €1.65
62.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.42
$2.39 €2.09
-69.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.40
$2.03 €1.78
-80.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$3.11 €2.72
-21.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$3.87 €3.38
-2.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Santiago de Compostela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.16 €1.01
94.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$1.21 €1.05
49.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.68 €1.47
33.93%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.6
$2.98 €2.61
-24.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$9.34 €8.18
108.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$6.47 €5.66
-43.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$17.58 €15.38
-25.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$1.88 €1.64
71.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$2.23 €1.95
-27.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.2
$1.54 €1.35
54.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.2
$2.91 €2.54
-30.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$2.09 €1.83
-26.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$1.48 €1.30
1.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.93
$1.18 €1.03
-16.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.40
$0.70 €0.61
-25.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$6.08 €5.32
-26.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$5.17 €4.52
254.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$1.44 €1.26
29.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.2
$2.50 €2.19
7.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Santiago de Compostela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.49
$1.25 €1.09
12.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿394
$34.13 €29.86
-65.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$4.73 €4.14
-34.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.08
$1.23 €1.07
-15.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿475
$22.83 €19.97
-38.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.13
$1.81 €1.59
-27.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿936.0K
$28.9K €25.3K
-3.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$31.2K €27.3K
6.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Santiago de Compostela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,120
$163 €143
-25.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$21.56 €18.86
-36.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$32.84 €28.73
-43.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Santiago de Compostela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,035
$41.87 €36.63
44.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿572
$2.25 €1.97
654.67%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$9.97 €8.72
-9.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Santiago de Compostela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$342 €299
106.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.8K
$8,017 €7,014
97.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Santiago de Compostela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,970
$76.3 €66.8
-23.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,190
$31.64 €27.68
11.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,885
$85.1 €74.4
35.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,818
$94.9 €83.1
-11.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Santiago de Compostela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.1K
$753 €659
-16.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$526 €461
-15.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.7K
$1,011 €884
101.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$853 €746
75.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.2K
$3,050 €2,669
14.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$2,197 €1,923
17.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Santiago de Compostela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$1,941 €1,698
-74.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
3.33
60.06%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Santiago de Compostela: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $753 in Santiago de Compostela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santiago de Compostela pays 288% 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 $56.0 in Santiago de Compostela. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $244, with Santiago de Compostela 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 Santiago de Compostela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santiago de Compostela cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Santiago de Compostela?
On paper, salaries run 288% lower in Santiago de Compostela. 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 Santiago de Compostela?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $753 in Santiago de Compostela. 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 $342 in Santiago de Compostela. 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 Santiago de Compostela?
Shoppers in Santiago de Compostela pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Santiago de Compostela?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,422 in Santiago de Compostela, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Santiago de Compostela. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Santiago de Compostela more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Santiago de Compostela, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Santiago de Compostela?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Santiago de Compostela 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 14% less than in Santiago de Compostela. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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