😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $778 in Tacuarembo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,097 in Tacuarembo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,417 in Tacuarembo.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 58% more expensive than in Tacuarembo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Tacuarembo43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tacuarembo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$17.30UYU 695
-74.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,074
$29.76UYU 1,195
8.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿297
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.4
$2.04UYU 82.0
42.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.30
$0.96UYU 38.47
-8.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.01
$0.77UYU 31.04
-37.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.3
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tacuarembo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.1
$1.32UYU 53.0
41.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.81
$1.39UYU 56.0
5.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.7
-
-
Eggs
$2.10฿70.0
$3.21UYU 129
-34.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿652
$10.21UYU 410
91.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿379
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.3
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.1
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.5
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.0
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.8
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.55
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.57
$1.25UYU 50.4
-9.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.19
$1.04UYU 41.84
-47.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿635
$3.71UYU 149
414.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.2
$1.68UYU 67.3
5.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.6
$2.06UYU 82.7
34.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tacuarembo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.2
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿757
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.06
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.63
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿884.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿899.8K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tacuarembo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,411
$292UYU 11.7K
-64.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$15.20UYU 610
-25.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿579
$45.05UYU 1,810
-61.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tacuarembo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,734
$37.64UYU 1,512
38.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿369
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$10.21UYU 410
-24.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tacuarembo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿383.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tacuarembo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,098
$29.76UYU 1,195
111.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿983
$20.26UYU 814
45.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,263
$49.97UYU 2,007
96.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,946
$62.2UYU 2,498
42.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tacuarembo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$302UYU 12.1K
144.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tacuarembo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$864UYU 34.7K
-42.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Tacuarembo: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $302 in Tacuarembo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tacuarembo pays 75% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $30.00 in Tacuarembo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $108 per month, with Tacuarembo 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 Tacuarembo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tacuarembo cheaper than Phuket?
Tacuarembo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tacuarembo?
On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Tacuarembo. 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 Tacuarembo?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $302 in Tacuarembo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Tacuarembo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 153% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Tacuarembo?
Dining out is cheaper in Tacuarembo – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Tacuarembo?
At $778 in Tacuarembo versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tacuarembo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tacuarembo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tacuarembo more family-friendly?
For families, Tacuarembo 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 Tacuarembo?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tacuarembo 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 Tacuarembo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.