😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $419 in Villarrica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $637 in Villarrica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $854 in Villarrica.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 199% more expensive than in Villarrica, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket9% lower, Villarrica69% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Villarrica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,072
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$2.52CLP 2,349
11.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.93
$1.65CLP 1,541
-46.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$1.09CLP 1,013
-55.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$2.74CLP 2,560
-12.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$4.80CLP 4,482
-22.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Villarrica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.7
$1.29CLP 1,205
38.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.38
$2.62CLP 2,450
-45.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$2.53CLP 2,364
-37.55%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$3.25CLP 3,036
-34.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$8.40CLP 7,846
137.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$11.32CLP 10.6K
-69.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿96.9
$2.61CLP 2,433
13.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$1.92CLP 1,790
-10.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.4
$2.78CLP 2,594
-16.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$1.48CLP 1,382
40.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.33
$1.48CLP 1,381
-0.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.64
$1.29CLP 1,206
5.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.12
$1.63CLP 1,521
-32.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$2.00CLP 1,865
-71.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿605
$5.68CLP 5,304
224.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.0
$3.72CLP 3,478
-21.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Villarrica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿72.9
$1.89CLP 1,760
17.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$2.20CLP 2,056
37.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.31
$2.17CLP 2,028
-50.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.04
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿891.7K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Villarrica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,379
$64.1CLP 59.8K
60.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Villarrica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$32.17CLP 30.0K
66.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Villarrica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Villarrica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,106
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,154
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Villarrica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Villarrica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.5K
$544CLP 508.0K
-7.48%
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 Villarrica: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Villarrica pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
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 Villarrica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villarrica cheaper than Phuket?
Villarrica is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 199% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Villarrica?
On paper, salaries run 8% lower in Villarrica. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Villarrica?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Villarrica?
All in, you'll spend $1,253 per month in Phuket versus $419 in Villarrica – a 199% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Villarrica?
At $419 in Villarrica versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Villarrica but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Villarrica the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Villarrica more family-friendly?
For families, Villarrica 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 Villarrica?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Villarrica 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 Villarrica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 199% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.