😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,030 in Treinta y Tres.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,600 in Treinta y Tres.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,170 in Treinta y Tres.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 20% more expensive than in Treinta y Tres, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Treinta y Tres25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$13.62UYU 547
-67.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,075
$43.24UYU 1,737
-25.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$8.80UYU 354
1.48%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.5
$2.79UYU 112
3.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.33
$2.68UYU 108
-67.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.03
$2.00UYU 80.2
-76.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.3
$2.23UYU 89.4
5.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$2.90UYU 116
28.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.2
$1.07UYU 42.92
74.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.86
$2.21UYU 88.6
-33.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.7
$1.75UYU 70.5
-11.43%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.0
$3.80UYU 153
-44.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿653
$12.35UYU 496
58.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$8.93UYU 359
-61.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿379
$7.64UYU 307
48.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.4
$2.18UYU 87.4
36.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.1
$1.23UYU 49.27
36.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.6
$1.52UYU 61.1
45.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.0
$2.33UYU 93.6
-7.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.8
$1.21UYU 48.74
25.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.59
$2.26UYU 90.9
-40.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.60
$1.10UYU 44.13
2.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.21
$1.92UYU 77.0
-71.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$5.37UYU 216
-20.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿636
$5.45UYU 219
250.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.3
$2.22UYU 89.2
-19.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.7
$2.75UYU 111
1.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Treinta y Tres
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.3
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿758
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.27UYU 51.2
138.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.09
$0.43UYU 17.33
137.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$10.54UYU 423
-63.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.68
$1.96UYU 78.5
-23.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿885.7K
$19.8KUYU 795.6K
34.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿900.6K
$37.8KUYU 1.5M
-28.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,414
$113UYU 4,532
-9.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿377
$12.31UYU 495
-7.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿580
$36.55UYU 1,468
-52.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,735
$30.28UYU 1,216
71.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿369
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿256
$6.03UYU 242
27.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$176UYU 7,073
218.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿383.4K
$2,718UYU 109.2K
323.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,100
$61.6UYU 2,474
2.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿984
$19.92UYU 800
48.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,266
$98.2UYU 3,943
-0.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,949
$111UYU 4,448
-20.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Treinta y Tres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$442UYU 17.7K
67.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$245UYU 9,823
97.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.2K
$624UYU 25.1K
237.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.8K
$379UYU 15.2K
223.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.5K
$801UYU 32.2K
351.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Treinta y Tres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.4K
$754UYU 30.3K
-34.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
4
39.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026
Last update for Treinta y Tres: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $442 in Treinta y Tres. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Treinta y Tres pays 53% 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 $43.00 in Treinta y Tres. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $259, with Treinta y Tres cheaper for home cooking.
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 Treinta y Tres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Treinta y Tres cheaper than Phuket?
Treinta y Tres is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Treinta y Tres?
On paper, salaries run 53% lower in Treinta y Tres. 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 Treinta y Tres?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $442 in Treinta y Tres. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $176 in Treinta y Tres. 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 Treinta y Tres?
Dining out is cheaper in Treinta y Tres – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Treinta y Tres?
At $1,030 in Treinta y Tres versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Treinta y Tres but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Treinta y Tres the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Treinta y Tres more family-friendly?
For families, Treinta y Tres 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 Treinta y Tres?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Treinta y Tres 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 Treinta y Tres gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.