Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan de Pasto and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,294 a month against $1,463 in San Juan de Pasto, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

San Juan de Pasto, Colombia
Phuket, Thailand
San Juan de Pasto
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,463
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Juan de Pasto 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 Juan de Pasto and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,463 in San Juan de Pasto versus $1,294 in Phuket.

  • San Juan de Pasto $1,463
  • Phuket $1,294

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,144 in San Juan de Pasto versus $2,204 in Phuket.

  • San Juan de Pasto $2,144
  • Phuket $2,204

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,825 in San Juan de Pasto versus $3,115 in Phuket.

  • San Juan de Pasto $2,825
  • Phuket $3,115

Living in San Juan de Pasto is roughly 13% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: San Juan de Pasto is 8% above, Phuket is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Juan de Pasto
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.83 COP 28.5K
$4.39 ฿147
101.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$32.31 ฿1,083
45.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.50 COP 33.9K
$8.70 ฿292
20.69%
Cappuccino
$2.89 COP 9,347
$2.72 ฿91.3
6.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,595
$0.93 ฿31.20
52.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 COP 3,898
$0.50 ฿16.75
142.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.44 COP 11.1K
$2.53 ฿84.9
35.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.64 COP 11.7K
$3.63 ฿122
0.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Juan de Pasto
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 COP 5,202
$1.74 ฿58.3
-7.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,712
$1.45 ฿48.64
64.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.06 COP 6,654
$1.50 ฿50.4
37.33%
Eggs
$3.46 COP 11.2K
$2.17 ฿72.8
59.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.16 COP 23.1K
$19.09 ฿640
-62.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 COP 32.7K
$3.40 ฿114
197.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.84 COP 38.2K
$10.90 ฿365
8.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.75 COP 12.1K
$2.94 ฿98.6
27.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,424
$1.69 ฿56.7
-18.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,533
$2.19 ฿73.6
-21.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.86 COP 6,010
$2.12 ฿71.2
-12.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 COP 5,794
$1.46 ฿48.90
22.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.72 COP 5,566
$1.37 ฿45.87
25.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 COP 3,321
$1.08 ฿36.07
-4.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,253
$0.55 ฿18.29
140.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 COP 15.2K
$4.43 ฿148
6.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.60 COP 40.7K
$18.25 ฿612
-30.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 COP 4,113
$1.77 ฿59.4
-28.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 COP 8,421
$2.88 ฿96.6
-9.38%
🚌 Getting Around
San Juan de Pasto
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.11 COP 3,586
$1.45 ฿48.53
-23.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.9 COP 216.0K
$54.9 ฿1,840
21.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.63 COP 5,267
$1.51 ฿50.7
7.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,752
$0.78 ฿26.01
167.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 25.4K
$3.84 ฿129
104.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 COP 4,159
$1.49 ฿49.87
-13.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K COP 126.1M
$26.9K ฿901.3K
45.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K COP 107.5M
$26.3K ฿883.4K
26.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Juan de Pasto
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$129 COP 415.6K
$97.8 ฿3,280
31.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.90 COP 44.9K
$11.29 ฿379
23.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.01 COP 96.9K
$17.19 ฿576
74.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Juan de Pasto
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.00 COP 106.6K
$68.3 ฿2,291
-51.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.92 ฿366
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 COP 25.3K
$7.43 ฿249
5.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Juan de Pasto
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$581 COP 1.9M
$530 ฿17.8K
9.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.9K COP 44.8M
$18.8K ฿629.7K
-26.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Juan de Pasto
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.9 COP 303.2K
$61.7 ฿2,068
52.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.34 COP 159.3K
$28.25 ฿947
74.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 COP 394.3K
$96.0 ฿3,219
27.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.9 COP 306.4K
$86.8 ฿2,911
9.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Juan de Pasto
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$780 COP 2.5M
$721 ฿24.2K
8.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$546 COP 1.8M
$509 ฿17.1K
7.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,459 COP 4.7M
$1,950 ฿65.4K
-25.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$796 COP 2.6M
$1,397 ฿46.8K
-43.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,112 COP 6.8M
$4,192 ฿140.6K
-49.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,582 COP 5.1M
$3,298 ฿110.6K
-52.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Juan de Pasto
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$492 ฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
5.57
115.44%

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

Last update for San Juan de Pasto: October 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Juan de Pasto
$546
Phuket
$509 6.8% $37
Groceries & Markets
San Juan de Pasto
$278
Phuket
$267 4.1% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Juan de Pasto
$173
Phuket
$126 26.8% $46
Eating Out
San Juan de Pasto
$172
Phuket
$120 30.5% $52
Clothing & Footwear
San Juan de Pasto
$162
Phuket
$123 24.3% $39
Getting Around
San Juan de Pasto
$83
Phuket
$66 20.8% $17
Sport & Entertainment
San Juan de Pasto
$49
Phuket
$83 70.9% $35

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $780 in San Juan de Pasto and $721 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47 in San Juan de Pasto vs $32 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $267 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 San Juan de Pasto
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
17:18 5:18 PM
05:18 5:18 AM
12 h ahead of San Juan de Pasto
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
392,930
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,609 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.53 THB (100 THB = 2.98 USD). 1 EUR = 37.47 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Juan de Pasto Phuket 18,900 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Juan de Pasto
  • 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 Juan de Pasto vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than San Juan de Pasto?
Phuket is about 12% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $2,194 in San Juan de Pasto and $1,940 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 Juan de Pasto and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $780 in San Juan de Pasto versus $721 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $581 in San Juan de Pasto versus $530 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in San Juan de Pasto and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in San Juan de Pasto. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is it better to live in San Juan de Pasto or in Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in San Juan de Pasto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

San Juan de Pasto vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?