😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $911 in Tuxtla Gutierrez.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,520 in Tuxtla Gutierrez.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $2,130 in Tuxtla Gutierrez.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 39% more expensive than Tuxtla Gutierrez, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Tuxtla Gutierrez32% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70฿153
$7.05MX$122
-33.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37฿1,482
$18.74MX$324
142.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43฿275
$6.98MX$121
20.77%
Cappuccino
$2.93฿95.6
$3.63MX$62.7
-19.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.40
$1.18MX$20.38
-41.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.99
$1.05MX$18.14
-64.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.68MX$46.40
-10.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿122
$2.99MX$51.7
24.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23฿72.9
$1.29MX$22.27
72.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83฿59.8
$2.33MX$40.35
-21.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.17฿70.8
$1.61MX$27.88
34.78%
Eggs
$2.21฿72.3
$2.34MX$40.44
-5.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.74฿645
$23.92MX$414
-17.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿119
$6.93MX$120
-47.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.53฿442
$10.78MX$186
25.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28฿107
$2.58MX$44.57
27.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿52.6
$1.14MX$19.77
41.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.6
$2.88MX$49.81
-16.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.1
$1.60MX$27.69
30.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.93
$1.52MX$26.27
0.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.36
$2.09MX$36.12
-29.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99฿32.29
$1.05MX$18.09
-5.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.67
$0.50MX$8.72
2.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41฿144
$4.04MX$69.8
9.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.38฿633
$11.61MX$201
66.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿58.1
$1.59MX$27.52
11.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71฿88.6
$2.82MX$48.81
-3.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37฿44.79
$0.55MX$9.46
149.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.39฿372
$28.64MX$495
-60.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿98.6
$2.70MX$46.73
11.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99฿32.48
$2.50MX$43.28
-60.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.10฿461
$5.41MX$93.5
160.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36฿44.51
$1.32MX$22.77
3.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K฿921.1K
$20.9KMX$361.1K
35.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K฿1.1M
$22.8KMX$394.3K
44.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,975
$55.7MX$963
118.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57฿443
$22.05MX$381
-38.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31฿598
$25.95MX$449
-29.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.2฿1,967
$48.43MX$838
24.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14฿560
$13.24MX$229
29.46%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69฿284
$5.92MX$102
46.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$693฿22.6K
$206MX$3,561
236.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7K฿512.3K
$2,186MX$37.8K
617.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,944
$10.69MX$185
456.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77฿1,136
$15.78MX$273
120.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,743
$53.3MX$922
114.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3฿2,720
$42.98MX$743
93.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$613฿20.0K
$320MX$5,542
91.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437฿14.3K
$229MX$3,966
90.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,094฿68.4K
$790MX$13.7K
165.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509฿49.3K
$594MX$10.3K
154.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,749฿122.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,616฿85.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tuxtla Gutierrez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.6K
$532MX$9,202
-4.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11.5
-53.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Last update for Tuxtla Gutierrez: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $320 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tuxtla Gutierrez pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $19.00 in Tuxtla Gutierrez for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $286 per month, with Tuxtla Gutierrez 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 Tuxtla Gutierrez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tuxtla Gutierrez cheaper than Phuket?
Tuxtla Gutierrez is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tuxtla Gutierrez?
On paper, Tuxtla Gutierrez earns 5% less. 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: $613 in Phuket versus $320 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $206 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Tuxtla Gutierrez?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Tuxtla Gutierrez?
At $911 in Tuxtla Gutierrez versus $1,265 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 39% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.