😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,442 in San Marco Argentano versus $1,250 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,202 in San Marco Argentano versus $2,284 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,963 in San Marco Argentano versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in San Marco Argentano is roughly 15% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: San Marco Argentano is 8% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.16€15.03
$4.55฿153
277.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.9€49.82
$46.18฿1,553
23.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.36€9.95
$8.84฿297
28.51%
Cappuccino
$1.37€1.20
$3.06฿103
-55.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14€1.00
$0.73฿24.40
56.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60€0.52
$0.40฿13.39
50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29€2.01
$2.43฿81.8
-5.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45€3.02
$3.78฿127
-8.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42€1.25
$2.26฿76.0
-37.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18€1.03
$1.81฿60.9
-34.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.32€2.03
$2.25฿75.8
3.11%
Eggs
$3.19€2.79
$2.25฿75.5
41.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.88€5.15
$19.51฿656
-69.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92€5.18
$3.65฿123
62.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.72€10.27
$13.05฿439
-10.19%
Apples(1kg)
$1.69€1.48
$3.23฿109
-47.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56€1.37
$1.62฿54.4
-3.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45€1.27
$2.38฿80.1
-39.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.76€1.54
$2.03฿68.1
-13.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18€1.04
$1.53฿51.6
-22.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18€1.04
$1.50฿50.5
-21.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86€0.76
$0.98฿32.91
-12.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44€0.38
$0.52฿17.39
-15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.88€5.15
$4.44฿149
32.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.94€6.95
$18.32฿616
-56.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14€1.00
$1.86฿62.7
-38.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38€2.08
$2.68฿90.1
-11.19%
🚌 Getting Around
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.78€1.56
$1.41฿47.46
26.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.08€38.60
$11.70฿393
276.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.07€6.19
$3.11฿105
127.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59€1.39
$1.04฿35.06
52.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$58.6€51.3
$14.11฿474
315.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.75
$1.31฿44.10
52.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4K€19.6K
$27.8K฿935.4K
-19.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K€22.4K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-23.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115€100
$122฿4,118
-6.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.75€12.92
$13.59฿457
8.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.54€24.99
$18.70฿629
52.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.4€47.64
$60.5฿2,034
-10.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.84€20.01
$16.98฿571
34.51%
Cinema Ticket
$9.33€8.17
$9.07฿305
2.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$173€152
$706฿23.8K
-75.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4K€10.0K
$15.8K฿531.5K
-27.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.9€68.2
$58.6฿1,969
33.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.24€25.61
$35.36฿1,189
-17.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.7€76.8
$115฿3,883
-24.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102€89.5
$83.7฿2,816
22.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$741€649
$626฿21.0K
18.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$585€512
$445฿15.0K
31.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,201€1,052
$2,040฿68.6K
-41.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$908€796
$1,492฿50.2K
-39.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,964€2,596
$3,483฿117.1K
-14.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,078€1,820
$2,577฿86.7K
-19.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,739€1,523
$500฿16.8K
247.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
5.33
-62.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Marco Argentano: July 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in San Marco Argentano and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰San Marco Argentano pays 248% 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: $57.0 in San Marco Argentano vs $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $289, with San Marco Argentano cheaper for home cooking.
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 Marco Argentano vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than San Marco Argentano?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: San Marco Argentano or Phuket?
Average pay runs 248% higher in San Marco Argentano, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between San Marco Argentano and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $741 in San Marco Argentano versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $173 in San Marco Argentano 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 Marco Argentano and in Phuket?
Shoppers in San Marco Argentano pay roughly 42% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in San Marco Argentano or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,442 in San Marco Argentano, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in San Marco Argentano. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is San Marco Argentano or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in San Marco Argentano, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, San Marco Argentano or Phuket?
Safety-wise, San Marco Argentano 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in San Marco Argentano. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
San Marco Argentano vs other spots: cost of living compared