Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Soledad Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Soledad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $974 in Soledad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $1,437 in Soledad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,291 in Phuket versus $1,901 in Soledad.

Living in Phuket is roughly 29% more expensive than in Soledad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Soledad 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53 ฿153
$6.08 COP 19.6K
-25.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36 ฿1,562
$23.84 COP 76.7K
94.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.65 ฿291
$9.58 COP 30.8K
-9.71%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ฿104
$1.62 COP 5,223
90.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.85
$0.87 COP 2,804
-21.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.41
$0.67 COP 2,159
-44.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.4
$1.26 COP 4,038
92.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 ฿128
$2.84 COP 9,147
34.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿73.4
$1.18 COP 3,810
84.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿61.2
$1.86 COP 5,992
-2.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿73.3
$1.38 COP 4,429
57.97%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿75.3
$2.11 COP 6,794
6.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.93 ฿671
$6.84 COP 22.0K
191.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.64 ฿123
$6.18 COP 19.9K
-41.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿457
$7.70 COP 24.8K
76.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 ฿111
$3.17 COP 10.2K
3.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.8
$1.10 COP 3,551
53.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿78.6
$1.46 COP 4,711
59.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.3
$1.60 COP 5,143
26.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.9
$1.61 COP 5,182
-0.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 ฿50.4
$1.12 COP 3,598
33.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿34.11
$1.05 COP 3,370
-3.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.06
$0.63 COP 2,037
-23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿150
$2.24 COP 7,222
98.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.63 ฿628
$18.22 COP 58.6K
2.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿60.2
$0.99 COP 3,177
80.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 ฿94.2
$1.03 COP 3,312
171.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.81
$0.68 COP 2,180
108.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.33 ฿382
$29.60 COP 95.2K
-61.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 ฿104
$1.95 COP 6,277
58.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.13
$1.67 COP 5,358
-37.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.63 ฿459
$4.73 COP 15.2K
188.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.15
$0.96 COP 3,103
36.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K ฿919.1K
$19.1K COP 61.6M
42.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$30.0K COP 96.4M
10.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,149
$141 COP 453.5K
-12.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81 ฿465
$10.96 COP 35.3K
26.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿624
$25.03 COP 80.5K
-26.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.4 ฿2,034
$23.35 COP 75.1K
158.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ฿566
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿299
$2.95 COP 9,503
201.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$687 ฿23.1K
$142 COP 457.5K
382.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿523.9K
$6,040 COP 19.4M
157.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 ฿1,942
$47.81 COP 153.8K
20.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66 ฿1,168
$38.77 COP 124.8K
-10.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,872
$126 COP 405.6K
-8.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.9 ฿2,860
$113 COP 365.1K
-25.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$618 ฿20.8K
$285 COP 916.4K
116.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$443 ฿14.9K
$240 COP 772.6K
84.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,047 ฿69.0K
$522 COP 1.7M
292.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,506 ฿50.7K
$430 COP 1.4M
250.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,568 ฿120.2K
$1,821 COP 5.9M
95.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,511 ฿84.6K
$1,346 COP 4.3M
86.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿16.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
15
-64.47%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Last update for Soledad: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $618 in Phuket and $285 in Soledad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $24.00 in Soledad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $218 per month, with Soledad 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 Soledad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Soledad cheaper than Phuket?
Soledad is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Phuket and $1,461 in Soledad 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Soledad?
Rent for a central apartment: $618 in Phuket versus $285 in Soledad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $687 in Phuket versus $142 in Soledad. 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 Soledad?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Phuket. 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 Soledad?
At $974 in Soledad versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Soledad but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Soledad the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Soledad more family-friendly?
For families, Soledad 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 Soledad?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Soledad 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 Soledad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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