Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tehuacan

For one person, living costs are similar in Phuket and in Tehuacan: $1,208 and $1,188 a month, rent and utilities included.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Tehuacan
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,188
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Tehuacan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Tehuacan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,208 in Phuket versus $1,188 in Tehuacan.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Tehuacan $1,188

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Phuket versus $1,914 in Tehuacan.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Tehuacan $1,914

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Phuket versus $2,641 in Tehuacan.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Tehuacan $2,641

Living in Phuket is roughly 2% more expensive than in Tehuacan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Tehuacan 12% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$11.08 MX$205
-60.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$43.80 MX$809
-26.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$8.86 MX$164
-1.13%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$3.24 MX$59.8
-12.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$1.32 MX$24.41
-31.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$0.82 MX$15.14
-42.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$2.14 MX$39.53
19.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$3.48 MX$64.3
10.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$1.79 MX$33.16
-3.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$3.16 MX$58.5
-53.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$2.21 MX$40.85
-31.67%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$3.09 MX$57.0
-29.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$7.93 MX$147
148.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$8.22 MX$152
-59.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$9.04 MX$167
23.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$4.33 MX$80.1
-34.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$2.00 MX$37.03
-15.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$2.33 MX$42.96
-6.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$2.29 MX$42.23
-10.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$2.96 MX$54.7
-51.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$2.46 MX$45.49
-43.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$1.67 MX$30.84
-35.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$1.01 MX$18.62
-49.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$5.07 MX$93.8
-15.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$12.70 MX$235
46.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$2.02 MX$37.27
-11.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$3.79 MX$70.0
-24.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
$0.69 MX$12.76
227.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$3.20 MX$59.1
-5.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$1.94 MX$35.92
-45.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$10.23 MX$189
-62.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$1.31 MX$24.20
10.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$27.2K MX$502.3K
-3.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$23.5K MX$434.1K
14.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$58.2 MX$1,076
65.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$25.71 MX$475
-57.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$32.63 MX$603
-47.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
$34.54 MX$638
51.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
$19.90 MX$368
-43.92%
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$7.01 MX$130
11.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$230 MX$4,255
141.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$5,188 MX$95.9K
123.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$65.6 MX$1,212
-2.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$53.8 MX$994
-46.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$105 MX$1,942
-9.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$107 MX$1,971
-17.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$609 MX$11.3K
20.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$385 MX$7,112
20.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$1,028 MX$19.0K
103.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$763 MX$14.1K
57.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
$1,939 MX$35.8K
79.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$1,168 MX$21.6K
115.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tehuacan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11.07
-49.68%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Tehuacan: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Tehuacan
$385 16.8% $78
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Tehuacan
$293 9% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Tehuacan
$117 6.4% $8
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Tehuacan
$149 19.9% $25
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Tehuacan
$180 48.7% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Tehuacan
$49 28.4% $19
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Tehuacan
$16 * 60.2% $24

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Phuket and $609 in Tehuacan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $44.00 in Tehuacan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $293 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇲🇽 Tehuacan
🕒 Local time
02:13 2:13 AM
13:13 1:13 PM
13 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
293,825
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Tehuacan 16,610 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Tehuacan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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?
Tehuacan is cheaper overall, especially in leisure and transport. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,813 in Phuket and $1,782 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: $737 in Phuket versus $609 in Tehuacan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $556 in Phuket versus $230 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 Tehuacan – a meal for two runs $44.00 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 Tehuacan?
At $1,188 in Tehuacan versus $1,208 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tehuacan but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tehuacan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tehuacan more family-friendly?
For families, Tehuacan 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 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 Tehuacan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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