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: $1,270 in Phuket versus $985 in Soledad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $1,454 in Soledad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $1,923 in Soledad.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Soledad 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿150
$5.98 COP 21.4K
-22.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44 ฿1,496
$23.15 COP 82.8K
100.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿280
$9.41 COP 33.7K
-7.76%
Cappuccino
$2.95 ฿95.0
$1.59 COP 5,689
85.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ฿22.52
$0.82 COP 2,935
-14.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿12.70
$0.72 COP 2,576
-45.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿81.6
$1.31 COP 4,679
93.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿122
$2.96 COP 10.6K
27.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 ฿71.5
$1.20 COP 4,299
85.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 ฿57.8
$1.94 COP 6,927
-7.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ฿70.4
$1.39 COP 4,959
57.55%
Eggs
$2.31 ฿74.5
$2.18 COP 7,813
5.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.34 ฿623
$7.00 COP 25.1K
176.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.77 ฿121
$6.00 COP 21.5K
-37.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.22 ฿426
$7.88 COP 28.2K
67.77%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 ฿107
$3.31 COP 11.9K
0.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ฿53.1
$1.11 COP 3,959
48.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 ฿73.7
$1.46 COP 5,208
56.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿64.1
$1.63 COP 5,830
22.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.24
$1.54 COP 5,511
-0.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 ฿48.77
$1.06 COP 3,807
42.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.12
$1.05 COP 3,753
-1.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.57
$0.60 COP 2,141
-15.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿142
$2.36 COP 8,451
86.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.41 ฿625
$18.60 COP 66.6K
4.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.0
$0.98 COP 3,492
83.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿86.4
$0.98 COP 3,519
173.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.43 ฿46.11
$0.73 COP 2,619
95.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿377
$30.27 COP 108.3K
-61.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ฿97.9
$2.00 COP 7,142
52.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.37
$1.72 COP 6,167
-39.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.68 ฿441
$4.70 COP 16.8K
191.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ฿41.85
$1.03 COP 3,696
26.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ฿898.9K
$18.9K COP 67.5M
47.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K ฿1.1M
$30.1K COP 107.8M
9.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿3,962
$142 COP 509.1K
-13.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82 ฿445
$10.65 COP 38.1K
29.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86 ฿608
$24.75 COP 88.6K
-23.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 ฿1,970
$23.19 COP 83.0K
163.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81 ฿541
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿286
$2.89 COP 10.3K
206.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 ฿22.4K
$140 COP 501.8K
396.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K ฿517.4K
$6,010 COP 21.5M
167.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,910
$49.22 COP 176.2K
20.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85 ฿1,123
$38.44 COP 137.6K
-9.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,646
$126 COP 452.3K
-10.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1 ฿2,740
$113 COP 405.6K
-24.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$615 ฿19.8K
$281 COP 1.0M
118.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.4K
$235 COP 840.8K
90.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 ฿67.2K
$535 COP 1.9M
289.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿48.2K
$427 COP 1.5M
250.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,734 ฿120.3K
$1,812 COP 6.5M
106.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,662 ฿85.8K
$1,264 COP 4.5M
110.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Soledad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$534 ฿17.2K
-
-
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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Soledad: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $281 in Soledad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $46 in Phuket vs $23 in Soledad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $220 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 $1,904 in Phuket and $1,477 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: $615 in Phuket versus $281 in Soledad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $696 in Phuket versus $140 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 Soledad?
Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Soledad?
At $985 in Soledad versus $1,270 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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