Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Todos Santos Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Todos Santos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,103 in Todos Santos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,745 in Todos Santos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $2,388 in Todos Santos.

Living in Phuket is roughly 14% more expensive than Todos Santos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Todos Santos 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Todos Santos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$10.61 MX$182
-57.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$39.25 MX$674
18.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$8.12 MX$139
4.31%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$3.25 MX$55.8
-6.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$1.28 MX$22.04
-46.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$0.90 MX$15.44
-58.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$2.41 MX$41.42
3.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$3.83 MX$65.7
-4.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Todos Santos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.44 MX$24.74
51.39%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$2.62 MX$44.89
-27.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.55 MX$26.60
41.94%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$2.32 MX$39.88
-4.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$7.92 MX$136
152.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$8.07 MX$139
-54.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$10.56 MX$181
25.47%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$2.59 MX$44.41
24.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$1.38 MX$23.75
23.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$1.79 MX$30.70
33.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$1.64 MX$28.21
26.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$1.93 MX$33.09
-17.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$1.92 MX$33.04
-22.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$1.21 MX$20.70
-14.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.98 MX$16.82
-46.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$4.27 MX$73.3
-0.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$10.54 MX$181
78.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$1.61 MX$27.68
9.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$2.73 MX$46.88
1.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Todos Santos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$0.66 MX$11.29
106.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$2.57 MX$44.19
22.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$1.53 MX$26.29
-32.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$8.42 MX$144
63.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$1.26 MX$21.65
6.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$21.2K MX$364.7K
30.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$22.6K MX$387.4K
50.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Todos Santos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$56.2 MX$964
120.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$22.38 MX$384
-39.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$28.57 MX$490
-34.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Todos Santos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$36.25 MX$622
70.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$15.61 MX$268
10.51%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$4.77 MX$81.8
91.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Todos Santos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$210 MX$3,607
234.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$3,600 MX$61.8K
340.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Todos Santos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$53.9 MX$926
10.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$40.36 MX$693
-13.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$88.9 MX$1,525
29.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$78.2 MX$1,343
7.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Todos Santos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$501 MX$8,598
23.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$393 MX$6,740
10.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$948 MX$16.3K
117.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$747 MX$12.8K
102.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$1,745 MX$30.0K
108.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$1,141 MX$19.6K
130.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Todos Santos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
11.48
-53.57%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Todos Santos: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $501 in Todos Santos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $39.00 in Todos Santos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $249 per month, with Todos Santos 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 Todos Santos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Todos Santos cheaper than Phuket?
Todos Santos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $1,655 in Todos Santos 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 Todos Santos?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $501 in Todos Santos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $210 in Todos Santos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Todos Santos?
Dining out is cheaper in Todos Santos – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Todos Santos?
At $1,103 in Todos Santos versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Todos Santos but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Todos Santos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Todos Santos more family-friendly?
For families, Todos Santos 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 Todos Santos?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Todos Santos 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 Todos Santos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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