Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Talcahuano Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Talcahuano

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,224 in Phuket versus $156 in Talcahuano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,035 in Phuket versus $211 in Talcahuano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,846 in Phuket versus $267 in Talcahuano.

Living in Phuket is roughly 683% more expensive than in Talcahuano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 9% lower, Talcahuano 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.53 ฿151

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.04 ฿1,064

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.73 ฿290

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿93.2

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ฿27.59

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ฿15.18

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿80.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.83 ฿127

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿59.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ฿48.56

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.5

Eggs

$2.13 ฿70.7

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.41 ฿645

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 ฿112

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.08 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ฿98.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 ฿55.1

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 ฿75.0

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 ฿72.5

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.4

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 ฿37.35

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.15

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.47 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿624

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 ฿94.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.33 ฿77.3

$0.52 CLP 496

348.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.09 ฿767

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.84 ฿128

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.06

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.4K ฿911.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ฿908.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$101 ฿3,363

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.07 ฿368

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.06 ฿567

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.3 ฿1,770

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.88 ฿361

Cinema Ticket

$7.56 ฿251

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$552 ฿18.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿382.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.2 ฿2,099

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.58 ฿949

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 ฿3,239

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 ฿2,913

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$736 ฿24.5K

$207 CLP 195.7K

256.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 ฿16.0K

$154 CLP 146.3K

210.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,065 ฿68.6K

$371 CLP 351.7K

456.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,234 ฿41.0K

$265 CLP 251.2K

365.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,556 ฿118.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,534 ฿84.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.7K

$624 CLP 590.6K

-19.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Phuket: September 21, 2026

Last update for Talcahuano: September 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $736 in Phuket and $207 in Talcahuano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Talcahuano pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Talcahuano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Talcahuano is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 683% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Talcahuano. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $736 in Phuket versus $207 in Talcahuano. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

At $156 in Talcahuano versus $1,224 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Talcahuano but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Talcahuano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Talcahuano 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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Talcahuano are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Talcahuano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 683% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.