๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in San Marco Argentano versus $1,247 in Phuket.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,164 in San Marco Argentano versus $2,276 in Phuket.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,921 in San Marco Argentano versus $3,306 in Phuket.
๐Living in San Marco Argentano is roughly 13% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: San Marco Argentano is 5% above, Phuket is 7% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.51โฌ14.90
$4.59เธฟ147
281.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.0โฌ48.53
$46.83เธฟ1,501
21.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.76โฌ10.01
$8.70เธฟ279
35.17%
Cappuccino
$1.37โฌ1.17
$2.92เธฟ93.7
-53.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18โฌ1.00
$0.68เธฟ21.92
73.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56โฌ0.48
$0.40เธฟ12.70
40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27โฌ1.93
$2.51เธฟ80.4
-9.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54โฌ3.02
$3.80เธฟ122
-6.84%
๐ Groceries & Markets
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49โฌ1.27
$2.16เธฟ69.3
-31.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18โฌ1.00
$1.88เธฟ60.3
-37.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24โฌ1.91
$2.16เธฟ69.2
3.70%
Eggs
$3.22โฌ2.74
$2.22เธฟ71.2
45.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.65โฌ4.81
$19.57เธฟ627
-71.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92โฌ5.03
$3.80เธฟ122
55.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.45โฌ9.74
$13.41เธฟ430
-14.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70โฌ1.45
$3.26เธฟ104
-47.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56โฌ1.33
$1.61เธฟ51.7
-3.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43โฌ1.22
$2.31เธฟ74.0
-38.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.75โฌ1.49
$2.06เธฟ66.0
-15.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15โฌ0.98
$1.61เธฟ51.5
-28.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17โฌ1.00
$1.44เธฟ46.26
-18.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92โฌ0.78
$1.03เธฟ33.01
-10.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47โฌ0.40
$0.48เธฟ15.39
-2.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.72โฌ4.87
$4.50เธฟ144
27.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.67โฌ3.97
$19.18เธฟ615
-75.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15โฌ0.98
$1.82เธฟ58.4
-36.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28โฌ1.94
$2.69เธฟ86.2
-15.24%
๐ Getting Around
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.70โฌ1.44
$1.38เธฟ44.16
23.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.62โฌ36.27
$11.76เธฟ377
262.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.88โฌ5.85
$3.11เธฟ99.6
121.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52โฌ1.29
$1.00เธฟ32.18
52.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$58.6โฌ49.83
$13.74เธฟ441
326.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.96โฌ1.67
$1.30เธฟ41.61
50.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8Kโฌ18.6K
$27.4Kเธฟ877.0K
-20.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0Kโฌ21.3K
$33.0Kเธฟ1.1M
-24.30%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114โฌ97.4
$125เธฟ4,004
-8.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.32โฌ12.18
$13.74เธฟ440
4.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.50โฌ25.10
$18.61เธฟ597
58.52%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8โฌ47.51
$60.6เธฟ1,941
-7.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.99โฌ19.57
$17.15เธฟ550
34.05%
Cinema Ticket
$9.02โฌ7.67
$9.01เธฟ289
0.11%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$173โฌ147
$698เธฟ22.4K
-75.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6Kโฌ9,889
$16.1Kเธฟ516.5K
-27.88%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.2โฌ67.4
$59.2เธฟ1,898
33.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.45โฌ25.06
$34.86เธฟ1,118
-15.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.2โฌ75.1
$114เธฟ3,662
-22.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106โฌ90.1
$85.8เธฟ2,751
23.37%
๐ Accommodation & Living
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$744โฌ633
$619เธฟ19.8K
20.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$576โฌ490
$437เธฟ14.0K
31.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,206โฌ1,027
$2,075เธฟ66.5K
-41.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$937โฌ797
$1,509เธฟ48.4K
-37.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,959โฌ2,518
$3,764เธฟ120.7K
-21.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,121โฌ1,805
$2,694เธฟ86.4K
-21.27%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
San Marco Argentano
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,731โฌ1,473
$528เธฟ16.9K
227.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
5.33
-62.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Marco Argentano: April 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $744 in San Marco Argentano and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐSan Marco Argentano pays 228% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $57 in San Marco Argentano vs $47 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $292, 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 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: San Marco Argentano or Phuket?
San Marco Argentano pays 228% more on average, 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: $744 in San Marco Argentano 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 $173 in San Marco Argentano versus $698 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 Phuket?
Shoppers in San Marco Argentano pay roughly 49% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for San Marco Argentano or Phuket?
At $1,247 in Phuket versus $1,408 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 โ expenses run 13% 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