😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,113 in Villahermosa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $1,827 in Villahermosa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $2,541 in Villahermosa.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 10% more expensive than Villahermosa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Villahermosa16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Villahermosa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$10.53MX$181
-57.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$35.02MX$603
33.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$10.38MX$179
-18.21%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$3.18MX$54.7
-3.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$1.22MX$21.07
-44.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$0.95MX$16.27
-62.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$2.70MX$46.44
-10.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$5.19MX$89.3
-30.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Villahermosa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$1.40MX$24.11
56.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$1.62MX$27.81
11.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$1.30MX$22.41
71.54%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$2.32MX$39.86
-3.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$8.29MX$143
136.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$10.48MX$180
-64.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
$13.44MX$231
0.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$3.35MX$57.7
0.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$1.30MX$22.34
24.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$1.61MX$27.67
49.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$1.21MX$20.88
64.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$1.63MX$28.04
-6.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$1.29MX$22.21
12.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$1.28MX$22.06
-21.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$1.10MX$18.94
-56.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$5.23MX$90.0
-18.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$10.25MX$176
86.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$2.62MX$45.08
-29.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$6.38MX$110
-57.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Villahermosa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
$0.62MX$10.64
129.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$2.10MX$36.21
42.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$1.55MX$26.63
-32.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$8.32MX$143
67.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$1.28MX$21.99
0.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$22.6KMX$389.0K
24.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$26.4KMX$454.9K
26.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Villahermosa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$60.4MX$1,039
102.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$28.34MX$488
-50.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$29.62MX$510
-36.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Villahermosa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
$43.93MX$756
39.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
$16.02MX$276
5.12%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$3.81MX$65.5
133.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Villahermosa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$298MX$5,134
131.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$4,239MX$72.9K
281.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Villahermosa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$56.4MX$971
2.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$39.19MX$674
-9.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$76.7MX$1,320
47.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$57.6MX$992
44.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Villahermosa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
$344MX$5,927
76.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
$369MX$6,348
21.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
$811MX$13.9K
150.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
$811MX$14.0K
84.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
$1,254MX$21.6K
106.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Villahermosa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
-
-
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 13, 2026
Last update for Villahermosa: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $344 in Villahermosa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Villahermosa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $271 per month, with Villahermosa 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 Villahermosa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villahermosa cheaper than Phuket?
Villahermosa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,835 in Phuket and $1,670 in Villahermosa 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 Villahermosa?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $344 in Villahermosa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $298 in Villahermosa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Villahermosa?
Dining out is cheaper in Villahermosa – a meal for two runs $35.00 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 Villahermosa?
At $1,113 in Villahermosa versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Villahermosa but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Villahermosa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Villahermosa more family-friendly?
For families, Villahermosa 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 Villahermosa?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Villahermosa 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 Villahermosa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.