Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tehuacan Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tehuacan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,362 in Tehuacan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $2,150 in Tehuacan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $2,939 in Tehuacan.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 7% less than in Tehuacan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Tehuacan 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43 ฿145
$11.92 MX$202
-62.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07 ฿1,151
$53.7 MX$909
-34.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.96 ฿294
$10.91 MX$185
-17.87%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.4
$3.98 MX$67.4
-24.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.33
$1.67 MX$28.37
-53.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.44
$1.38 MX$23.39
-65.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 ฿78.6
$3.30 MX$55.9
-27.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿123
$5.85 MX$99.1
-35.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 ฿59.8
$1.80 MX$30.58
1.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ฿46.65
$3.17 MX$53.7
-55.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.8
$2.12 MX$35.94
-26.89%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿69.9
$2.91 MX$49.33
-26.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.76 ฿648
$12.62 MX$214
56.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿114
$10.19 MX$173
-65.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.09 ฿364
$16.28 MX$276
-31.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 ฿95.5
$3.44 MX$58.4
-15.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ฿54.6
$2.09 MX$35.48
-20.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿74.5
$2.19 MX$37.17
3.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 ฿68.8
$2.41 MX$40.79
-12.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.24
$2.11 MX$35.72
-30.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 ฿46.29
$1.86 MX$31.50
-24.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ฿35.78
$1.51 MX$25.58
-27.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ฿17.58
$1.42 MX$24.07
-61.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48 ฿147
$5.53 MX$93.8
-18.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.72 ฿614
$17.25 MX$292
8.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿60.4
$2.03 MX$34.37
-9.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 ฿96.7
$4.62 MX$78.3
-36.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿74.1
$0.74 MX$12.56
205.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.07 ฿757
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ฿99.9
$2.03 MX$34.32
49.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 ฿35.82
$0.57 MX$9.63
91.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 ฿125
$5.90 MX$100.0
-35.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿48.79
$1.40 MX$23.78
6.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ฿900.3K
$22.9K MX$387.4K
20.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ฿902.7K
$26.9K MX$455.3K
2.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,340
$67.0 MX$1,135
52.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿370
$30.53 MX$517
-63.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75 ฿582
$37.29 MX$632
-52.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 ฿1,777
$43.07 MX$730
25.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96 ฿360
$20.06 MX$340
-45.36%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85 ฿258
$7.15 MX$121
9.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$577 ฿18.9K
$462 MX$7,836
24.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿381.6K
$4,936 MX$83.7K
135.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4 ฿2,144
$75.7 MX$1,282
-13.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89 ฿948
$55.1 MX$934
-47.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 ฿3,250
$113 MX$1,910
-12.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ฿2,961
$123 MX$2,091
-26.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ฿24.8K
$744 MX$12.6K
1.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$487 ฿16.0K
$491 MX$8,314
-0.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 ฿68.4K
$1,043 MX$17.7K
99.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ฿39.6K
$860 MX$14.6K
40.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,591 ฿117.8K
$1,928 MX$32.7K
86.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,610 ฿85.6K
$1,275 MX$21.6K
104.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11.35
-50.93%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Last update for Tehuacan: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Phuket and $744 in Tehuacan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Phuket vs $54.0 in Tehuacan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $345 per month, with Phuket 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 Tehuacan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tehuacan cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% 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 $2,043 in Tehuacan 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 Tehuacan?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Phuket versus $744 in Tehuacan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $577 in Phuket versus $462 in Tehuacan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Tehuacan?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $54.0 in Tehuacan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Tehuacan?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,362 in Tehuacan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Tehuacan. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tehuacan more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Tehuacan, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Tehuacan?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tehuacan 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 8% less than in Tehuacan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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