🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,190 in Phuket versus $1,202 in Zamora de Hidalgo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,006 in Phuket versus $1,844 in Zamora de Hidalgo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,822 in Phuket versus $2,486 in Zamora de Hidalgo.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 1% less than in Zamora de Hidalgo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket11% lower, Zamora de Hidalgo10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Zamora de Hidalgo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35฿146
$8.31MX$150
-47.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.45฿1,093
$19.74MX$357
64.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42฿283
$9.12MX$165
-7.68%
Cappuccino
$2.81฿94.5
$3.68MX$66.6
-23.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87฿29.46
$1.76MX$31.82
-50.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46฿15.48
$1.04MX$18.86
-55.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.59฿87.0
$1.69MX$30.55
53.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64฿123
$2.75MX$49.75
32.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Zamora de Hidalgo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71฿57.5
$1.88MX$34.01
-9.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45฿48.69
$2.70MX$48.77
-46.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56฿52.5
$2.03MX$36.73
-23.15%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.7
$2.85MX$51.5
-26.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.53฿657
$8.85MX$160
120.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.40฿114
$9.03MX$163
-62.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.14฿375
$13.92MX$252
-19.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83฿95.4
$3.51MX$63.5
-19.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.6
$1.69MX$30.55
-4.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22฿74.9
$2.22MX$40.04
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15฿72.3
$1.91MX$34.54
12.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49฿50.2
$1.89MX$34.13
-21.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33฿44.65
$1.86MX$33.53
-28.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07฿35.92
$1.55MX$27.95
-30.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿17.10
$1.24MX$22.38
-58.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38฿148
$4.48MX$81.0
-2.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.77฿632
$17.96MX$325
4.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74฿58.6
$2.37MX$42.92
-26.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿93.5
$4.14MX$74.8
-32.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Zamora de Hidalgo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.17฿73.0
$0.70MX$12.58
210.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.28฿750
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.02฿102
$3.32MX$60.0
-9.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06฿35.63
$2.62MX$47.42
-59.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.71฿125
$10.93MX$198
-66.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿48.16
$1.50MX$27.20
-4.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K฿887.1K
$21.2KMX$383.6K
24.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K฿882.3K
$24.3KMX$438.3K
8.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Zamora de Hidalgo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.7฿3,254
$61.9MX$1,119
56.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.41฿384
$28.01MX$506
-59.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.11฿576
$25.48MX$461
-32.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Zamora de Hidalgo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8฿1,778
$34.15MX$617
54.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿373
$20.75MX$375
-46.65%
Cinema Ticket
$7.65฿258
$7.60MX$137
0.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Zamora de Hidalgo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$555฿18.7K
$268MX$4,844
106.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K฿379.9K
$5,019MX$90.7K
124.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Zamora de Hidalgo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4฿2,135
$54.5MX$986
16.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.61฿963
$44.92MX$812
-36.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7฿3,256
$102MX$1,845
-5.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.6฿2,983
$100MX$1,812
-11.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Zamora de Hidalgo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$735฿24.7K
$608MX$11.0K
20.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458฿15.4K
$401MX$7,250
14.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,102฿70.8K
$1,037MX$18.7K
102.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,187฿40.0K
$789MX$14.3K
50.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,493฿117.6K
$1,871MX$33.8K
86.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,491฿83.9K
$1,150MX$20.8K
116.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Zamora de Hidalgo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$501฿16.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
11.99
-53.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: October 4, 2026
Last update for Zamora de Hidalgo: October 3, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $735 in Phuket and $608 in Zamora de Hidalgo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $20.00 in Zamora de Hidalgo. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $311, 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 Zamora de Hidalgo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zamora de Hidalgo cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,785 in Phuket and $1,803 in Zamora de Hidalgo 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 Zamora de Hidalgo?
Rent for a central apartment: $735 in Phuket versus $608 in Zamora de Hidalgo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $555 in Phuket versus $268 in Zamora de Hidalgo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Zamora de Hidalgo?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $20.00 in Zamora de Hidalgo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Zamora de Hidalgo?
At $1,190 in Phuket versus $1,202 in Zamora de Hidalgo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Zamora de Hidalgo. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Zamora de Hidalgo more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Zamora de Hidalgo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Zamora de Hidalgo?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Zamora de Hidalgo 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Zamora de Hidalgo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.