🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $437 in San Lorenzo versus $1,250 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $718 in San Lorenzo versus $2,284 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $999 in San Lorenzo versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in San Lorenzo costs roughly 65% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: San Lorenzo67% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Lorenzo
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41₲26.6K
$4.55฿153
-3.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.20₲158.0K
$46.18฿1,554
-43.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.66₲28.1K
$8.84฿298
-47.29%
Cappuccino
$1.90₲11.5K
$3.06฿103
-37.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83₲5,034
$0.73฿24.42
13.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₲2,780
$0.40฿13.40
15.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.46₲8,817
$2.43฿81.8
-39.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92₲11.6K
$3.78฿127
-49.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Lorenzo
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82₲4,960
$2.26฿76.0
-63.72%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52₲3,159
$1.81฿60.9
-71.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81₲4,877
$2.25฿75.8
-64.00%
Eggs
$1.64₲9,892
$2.25฿75.6
-27.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.98₲36.0K
$19.51฿656
-69.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90₲17.5K
$3.65฿123
-20.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.00₲36.2K
$13.05฿439
-54.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.68₲10.1K
$3.23฿109
-47.99%
Banana(1kg)
$0.71₲4,299
$1.62฿54.4
-56.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77₲4,620
$2.38฿80.2
-67.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.07₲6,430
$2.03฿68.2
-47.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69₲4,150
$1.53฿51.6
-54.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.77₲4,654
$1.50฿50.5
-48.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42₲2,519
$0.98฿32.93
-57.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36₲2,198
$0.52฿17.40
-30.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.42₲8,540
$4.44฿149
-68.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.72₲22.4K
$18.32฿616
-79.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.58₲3,505
$1.86฿62.7
-68.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76₲4,577
$2.68฿90.2
-71.64%
🚌 Getting Around
San Lorenzo
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48₲2,893
$1.41฿47.49
-65.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.45₲207.8K
$11.70฿394
194.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.60₲3,611
$3.11฿105
-80.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₲4,487
$1.04฿35.08
-28.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.92₲23.7K
$14.11฿475
-72.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82₲4,945
$1.31฿44.13
-37.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.8K₲89.2M
$27.8K฿936.0K
-46.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7K₲143.1M
$33.2K฿1.1M
-28.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Lorenzo
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.74₲251.8K
$122฿4,120
-65.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.75₲82.9K
$13.59฿457
1.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.43₲93.1K
$18.70฿629
-17.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Lorenzo
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.90₲89.9K
$60.5฿2,035
-75.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.75₲52.8K
$16.98฿572
-48.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.37₲26.3K
$9.07฿305
-51.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Lorenzo
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$162₲975.0K
$706฿23.8K
-77.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,227₲19.5M
$15.8K฿531.8K
-79.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Lorenzo
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.87₲294.8K
$58.6฿1,970
-16.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.72₲185.3K
$35.36฿1,190
-13.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.9₲439.9K
$115฿3,885
-36.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.42₲292.1K
$83.7฿2,818
-42.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Lorenzo
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$626฿21.1K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$445฿15.0K
-
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Lorenzo
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$500฿16.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.17
5.33
90.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Lorenzo: July 14, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in San Lorenzo vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $116 vs $289 per month, with San Lorenzo 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 Lorenzo vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than San Lorenzo?
San Lorenzo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 186% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $655 in San Lorenzo and $1,875 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $162 in San Lorenzo versus $706 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 Lorenzo and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 149% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in San Lorenzo or in Phuket?
At $437 in San Lorenzo versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San Lorenzo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes San Lorenzo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is San Lorenzo or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, San Lorenzo 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 Lorenzo or Phuket?
Safety-wise, San Lorenzo 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 Lorenzo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 186% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
San Lorenzo vs other spots: cost of living compared