Cost of Living Comparison Between San Ignacio and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between San Ignacio and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $719 in San Ignacio versus $1,250 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $899 in San Ignacio versus $2,284 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,079 in San Ignacio versus $3,317 in Phuket.

Living in San Ignacio costs roughly 43% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Ignacio 46% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.13 BZD 30.26

$4.55 ฿153

232.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.71 BZD 91.4

$46.18 ฿1,554

-1.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿298

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 BZD 1.95

$0.73 ฿24.42

32.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 BZD 1.94

$0.40 ฿13.40

142.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.06 BZD 6.12

$2.43 ฿81.8

25.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.93 BZD 7.86

$3.78 ฿127

3.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.05 BZD 6.11

$2.26 ฿76.0

34.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 BZD 4.91

$1.81 ฿60.9

35.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

Eggs

$4.74 BZD 9.49

$2.25 ฿75.6

110.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.73 BZD 29.46

$19.51 ฿656

-24.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 BZD 7.78

$3.65 ฿123

6.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

Apples (1kg)

$4.98 BZD 9.95

$3.23 ฿109

54.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.2

Tomato (1kg)

$3.09 BZD 6.18

$2.03 ฿68.2

52.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 BZD 3.04

$1.53 ฿51.6

-0.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 BZD 3.04

$1.50 ฿50.5

1.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.93

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 BZD 1.96

$0.52 ฿17.40

88.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 BZD 3.08

$1.86 ฿62.7

-17.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 BZD 3.89

$1.41 ฿47.49

37.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿394

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.08

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿475

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.13

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿936.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.2K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿4,120

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.59 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,035

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$706 ฿23.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,970

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,190

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,885

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,818

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$601 BZD 1,203

$626 ฿21.1K

-3.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 BZD 704

$445 ฿15.0K

-20.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$980 BZD 1,961

$500 ฿16.8K

96.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for San Ignacio: July 13, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $601 in San Ignacio and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Ignacio pays 96% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $46.00 in San Ignacio vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $289 per month, with San Ignacio 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

San Ignacio vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Ignacio is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 96% higher in San Ignacio, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $601 in San Ignacio versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in San Ignacio – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $719 in San Ignacio versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Ignacio but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes San Ignacio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, San Ignacio 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.

Safety-wise, San Ignacio 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.

Expats usually find San Ignacio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.