😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $998 in Tuxtla Gutierrez.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $1,637 in Tuxtla Gutierrez.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $2,277 in Tuxtla Gutierrez.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 26% more expensive than in Tuxtla Gutierrez, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket9% lower, Tuxtla Gutierrez27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿151
$7.00MX$119
-34.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,082
$20.79MX$353
56.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿295
$7.81MX$133
13.96%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿93.0
$4.16MX$70.7
-32.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.19
$1.49MX$25.30
-40.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.23
$1.20MX$20.39
-59.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿79.2
$2.38MX$40.47
0.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿123
$2.69MX$45.61
37.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿59.3
$1.71MX$29.04
4.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.81
$2.85MX$48.39
-49.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.6
$1.82MX$30.93
-13.19%
Eggs
$2.13฿70.5
$2.82MX$47.84
-24.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿661
$20.12MX$342
-0.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿114
$8.60MX$146
-60.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿376
$11.99MX$204
-5.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿97.8
$2.78MX$47.28
6.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.1
$1.50MX$25.45
14.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿77.1
$2.69MX$45.77
-13.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿69.0
$1.78MX$30.23
16.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.77
$1.87MX$31.77
-21.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿45.05
$2.19MX$37.12
-37.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.45
$1.21MX$20.62
-9.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿19.06
$0.73MX$12.32
-21.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿142
$4.91MX$83.4
-13.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿611
$11.89MX$202
54.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿62.1
$1.55MX$26.31
20.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.9
$4.05MX$68.7
-27.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿73.6
$0.61MX$10.39
263.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿759
$30.94MX$525
-25.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$2.85MX$48.48
6.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.63
$2.92MX$49.58
-63.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿130
$8.90MX$151
-55.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.49
$1.53MX$26.00
-2.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿899.8K
$24.0KMX$407.5K
13.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿910.6K
$27.0KMX$458.1K
1.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,410
$26.41MX$449
289.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿365
$21.19MX$360
-48.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿581
$27.58MX$468
-36.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,776
$45.97MX$781
16.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿371
$14.80MX$251
-24.32%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿248
$6.55MX$111
14.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.5K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿393.2K
$2,428MX$41.2K
388.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,125
$36.84MX$626
73.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿964
$17.95MX$305
61.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,183
$73.3MX$1,244
30.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,997
$58.4MX$991
54.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.2K
$348MX$5,906
109.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.6K
$245MX$4,167
103.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿69.3K
$876MX$14.9K
138.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿40.1K
$656MX$11.1K
84.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿119.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿83.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.7K
$544MX$9,231
-7.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Tuxtla Gutierrez: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $348 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tuxtla Gutierrez pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $21.00 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $309, with Phuket 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 Tuxtla Gutierrez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tuxtla Gutierrez cheaper than Phuket?
Tuxtla Gutierrez is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tuxtla Gutierrez?
On paper, salaries run 8% lower in Tuxtla Gutierrez. 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 Tuxtla Gutierrez?
Rent for a central apartment: $730 in Phuket versus $348 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
Dining out is cheaper in Tuxtla Gutierrez – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $33.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Tuxtla Gutierrez runs roughly 35% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Tuxtla Gutierrez?
At $998 in Tuxtla Gutierrez versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tuxtla Gutierrez but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tuxtla Gutierrez the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tuxtla Gutierrez more family-friendly?
For families, Tuxtla Gutierrez 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 Tuxtla Gutierrez?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tuxtla Gutierrez 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 Tuxtla Gutierrez gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.