Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Felipe and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in San Felipe: $1,106 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Phuket outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

San Felipe
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,106
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Felipe and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in San Felipe and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,106 in San Felipe versus $1,208 in Phuket.

  • San Felipe $1,106
  • Phuket $1,208

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,777 in San Felipe versus $2,027 in Phuket.

  • San Felipe $1,777
  • Phuket $2,027

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,448 in San Felipe versus $2,845 in Phuket.

  • San Felipe $2,448
  • Phuket $2,845

Living in San Felipe costs roughly 8% less than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Felipe 18% lower, Phuket 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Felipe
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35 MX$136
$4.40 ฿147
67.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.63 MX$806
$32.26 ฿1,078
35.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.27 MX$153
$8.76 ฿293
-5.59%
Cappuccino
$3.49 MX$64.4
$2.83 ฿94.5
23.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 MX$24.91
$0.90 ฿30.14
50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 MX$19.41
$0.47 ฿15.56
123.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.45 MX$45.34
$2.55 ฿85.2
-3.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10 MX$75.8
$3.83 ฿128
7.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Felipe
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 MX$30.38
$1.73 ฿57.7
-5.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 MX$46.89
$1.47 ฿49.11
72.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 MX$31.80
$1.51 ฿50.6
13.91%
Eggs
$2.53 MX$46.82
$2.17 ฿72.7
16.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.42 MX$156
$19.70 ฿658
-57.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.46 MX$156
$3.34 ฿112
153.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.72 MX$217
$11.16 ฿373
5.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 MX$49.26
$2.85 ฿95.1
-6.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 MX$28.23
$1.70 ฿56.9
-10.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.02
$2.19 ฿73.3
-13.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.83 MX$33.76
$2.05 ฿68.4
-10.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.84
$1.45 ฿48.57
37.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 MX$34.64
$1.38 ฿46.16
35.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.43 MX$26.39
$1.07 ฿35.69
33.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$20.02
$0.51 ฿16.91
111.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50 MX$83.1
$4.26 ฿142
5.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.26 MX$190
$18.58 ฿621
-44.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 MX$32.42
$1.78 ฿59.7
-1.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 MX$56.8
$2.85 ฿95.2
7.72%
🚌 Getting Around
San Felipe
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 MX$11.65
$2.26 ฿75.6
-72.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.10 ฿738
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 MX$48.65
$3.01 ฿101
-12.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.93 MX$35.73
$1.06 ฿35.34
82.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.06 MX$204
$3.86 ฿129
186.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MX$26.73
$1.45 ฿48.45
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K MX$395.3K
$26.3K ฿879.9K
-18.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$452.2K
$26.9K ฿900.4K
-9.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Felipe
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.9 MX$1,070
$96.4 ฿3,221
-39.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.12 MX$427
$11.04 ฿369
109.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.50 MX$545
$17.14 ฿573
72.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Felipe
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.66 MX$622
$52.2 ฿1,744
-35.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.47 MX$378
$11.16 ฿373
83.42%
Cinema Ticket
$5.36 MX$99.0
$7.81 ฿261
-31.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Felipe
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$219 MX$4,051
$556 ฿18.6K
-60.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,580 MX$84.6K
$11.6K ฿387.0K
-60.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Felipe
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 MX$1,002
$64.2 ฿2,146
-15.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.18 MX$742
$28.69 ฿959
40.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.7 MX$1,842
$95.4 ฿3,187
4.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 MX$1,662
$88.0 ฿2,940
2.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Felipe
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$617 MX$11.4K
$737 ฿24.6K
-16.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$389 MX$7,184
$462 ฿15.5K
-15.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,059 MX$19.6K
$2,095 ฿70.0K
-49.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$757 MX$14.0K
$1,201 ฿40.1K
-37.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,934 MX$35.7K
$3,488 ฿116.6K
-44.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,147 MX$21.2K
$2,523 ฿84.3K
-54.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Felipe
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$501 ฿16.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
5.57
102.87%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Felipe: October 17, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Felipe
$389
Phuket
$462 18.9% $74
Groceries & Markets
San Felipe
$265
Phuket
$269 1.5% $4
Eating Out
San Felipe
$156
Phuket
$121 22% $34
Clothing & Footwear
San Felipe
$128
Phuket
$124 2.7% $3.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Felipe
$111
Phuket
$125 12.7% $14
Sport & Entertainment
San Felipe
$44
Phuket
$68 52.8% $23
Getting Around
San Felipe
$15 *
Phuket
$39 166% $25

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $617 in San Felipe and $737 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in San Felipe vs $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $269, with San Felipe cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇽 San Felipe
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
09:40 9:40 AM
22:40 10:40 PM
13 h ahead of San Felipe
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,452
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Felipe Phuket 16,110 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Felipe
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
San Felipe vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than San Felipe?
San Felipe is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and transport. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,660 in San Felipe and $1,813 in Phuket 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 San Felipe and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $617 in San Felipe versus $737 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $219 in San Felipe versus $556 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in San Felipe or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in San Felipe – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $32.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in San Felipe or in Phuket?
At $1,106 in San Felipe versus $1,208 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Felipe but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes San Felipe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is San Felipe or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, San Felipe 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, San Felipe or Phuket?
Safety-wise, San Felipe and Phuket 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 San Felipe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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