😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $586 in Villanueva.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $958 in Villanueva.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,330 in Villanueva.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 115% more expensive than Villanueva, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Villanueva56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Villanueva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$5.91HNL 158
-22.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,533
$36.96HNL 985
26.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿278
$7.45HNL 199
13.69%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿99.5
$2.33HNL 62.1
30.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.65
$1.03HNL 27.42
-33.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.03
$1.12HNL 29.87
-66.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.8
$1.17HNL 31.16
112.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿120
$2.63HNL 70.1
39.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Villanueva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.7
$1.38HNL 36.81
57.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.5
$2.06HNL 55.0
-7.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿72.3
$1.21HNL 32.38
81.82%
Eggs
$2.22฿73.1
$2.12HNL 56.6
4.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿657
$6.19HNL 165
222.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿120
$3.68HNL 98.2
-0.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿436
$8.05HNL 214
64.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿106
$2.99HNL 79.7
8.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.8
$1.52HNL 40.42
11.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.7
$1.49HNL 39.76
60.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.3
$1.58HNL 42.18
31.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿52.3
$1.61HNL 42.80
-1.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.76
$1.34HNL 35.72
10.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.85
$0.90HNL 23.93
14.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.99
$1.72HNL 45.75
-69.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿140
$2.45HNL 65.3
73.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿618
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.8
$1.28HNL 34.25
37.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿90.6
$1.86HNL 49.47
48.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Villanueva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.73
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿374
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿103
$4.32HNL 115
-27.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿34.05
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿452
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.20
$1.07HNL 28.42
25.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿909.7K
$19.4KHNL 516.3K
42.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$19.0KHNL 507.5K
77.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Villanueva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,062
$80.9HNL 2,157
52.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿444
$8.82HNL 235
53.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿614
$40.50HNL 1,080
-53.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Villanueva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,032
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿567
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿300
$5.60HNL 149
63.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Villanueva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿23.1K
$253HNL 6,757
177.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿521.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Villanueva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,955
$45.33HNL 1,208
31.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,153
$35.17HNL 937
-0.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,789
$110HNL 2,935
4.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,763
$103HNL 2,744
-18.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Villanueva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.3K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.8K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿119.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿86.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Villanueva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
12
-55.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Villanueva: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $37.00 in Villanueva for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $189 per month, with Villanueva 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 Villanueva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villanueva cheaper than Phuket?
Villanueva is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 115% 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 $880 in Villanueva 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $253 in Villanueva. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Villanueva?
Dining out is cheaper in Villanueva – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Phuket or Villanueva?
At $586 in Villanueva versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Villanueva but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Villanueva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Villanueva more family-friendly?
For families, Villanueva 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 Villanueva?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Villanueva 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 Villanueva gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.