🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $858 in San Luis versus $1,261 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,401 in San Luis versus $2,286 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,944 in San Luis versus $3,310 in Phuket.
🙂Living in San Luis costs roughly 32% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: San Luis36% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Luis
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.07ARS 15.8K
$4.56฿149
142.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.02ARS 58.6K
$46.63฿1,519
-12.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.59ARS 13.7K
$8.47฿276
13.22%
Cappuccino
$3.77ARS 5,388
$3.03฿98.6
24.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26ARS 3,230
$0.69฿22.45
227.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09ARS 2,980
$0.37฿11.92
464.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.59ARS 2,268
$2.49฿81.0
-36.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91ARS 4,160
$3.66฿119
-20.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Luis
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32ARS 1,883
$2.18฿71.0
-39.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54ARS 2,199
$1.90฿62.0
-18.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98ARS 2,823
$2.20฿71.6
-10.00%
Eggs
$2.20ARS 3,138
$2.22฿72.4
-0.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.73ARS 9,615
$19.99฿651
-66.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.61ARS 6,588
$3.66฿119
25.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.43ARS 7,763
$13.25฿432
-59.02%
Apples(1kg)
$1.24ARS 1,771
$3.23฿105
-61.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52ARS 2,166
$1.70฿55.3
-10.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52ARS 2,170
$2.39฿78.0
-36.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.11ARS 3,010
$2.08฿67.7
1.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02ARS 1,460
$1.59฿51.8
-35.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97ARS 1,390
$1.48฿48.31
-34.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99ARS 1,408
$1.03฿33.54
-3.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51ARS 721
$0.52฿16.83
-1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53ARS 3,618
$4.25฿138
-40.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.13ARS 5,898
$18.79฿612
-78.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96ARS 2,803
$1.76฿57.2
11.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40ARS 4,852
$2.76฿89.8
23.19%
🚌 Getting Around
San Luis
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.58ARS 822
$1.36฿44.32
-57.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.36฿370
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44ARS 635
$3.14฿102
-85.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98ARS 1,405
$1.04฿33.74
-5.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.93ARS 7,037
$13.77฿448
-64.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97ARS 1,390
$1.34฿43.79
-27.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KARS 44.1M
$27.7K฿901.4K
11.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7KARS 48.2M
$33.9K฿1.1M
-0.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Luis
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.4ARS 84.8K
$124฿4,025
-51.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.73ARS 15.3K
$13.52฿440
-20.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.94ARS 31.3K
$18.69฿609
17.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Luis
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.09ARS 37.3K
$61.8฿2,013
-57.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.57ARS 19.4K
$17.25฿562
-21.33%
Cinema Ticket
$5.52ARS 7,882
$9.14฿298
-39.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Luis
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$105ARS 149.8K
$703฿22.9K
-85.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,162ARS 3.1M
$15.9K฿517.0K
-86.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Luis
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.1ARS 114.4K
$59.5฿1,937
34.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.6ARS 108.0K
$35.07฿1,142
115.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137ARS 195.8K
$115฿3,754
18.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118ARS 168.1K
$84.1฿2,737
39.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Luis
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$298ARS 426.1K
$619฿20.1K
-51.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$167ARS 238.7K
$433฿14.1K
-61.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$533ARS 761.3K
$2,062฿67.2K
-74.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$295ARS 421.6K
$1,511฿49.2K
-80.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,004ARS 1.4M
$3,646฿118.7K
-72.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$608ARS 868.2K
$2,626฿85.5K
-76.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Luis
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$506ARS 722.4K
$507฿16.5K
-0.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
79
5.33
1382.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Luis: June 8, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $298 in San Luis and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 0% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in San Luis vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $293 per month, with San Luis 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 Luis vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than San Luis?
San Luis is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: San Luis or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 0% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between San Luis and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $298 in San Luis versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $105 in San Luis versus $703 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 Luis or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in San Luis – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $47.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for San Luis or Phuket?
At $858 in San Luis versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in San Luis but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes San Luis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is San Luis or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, San Luis 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 Luis or Phuket?
Safety-wise, San Luis 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 Luis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.