🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $980 in San Martin de los Andes versus $1,264 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in San Martin de los Andes versus $2,256 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in San Martin de los Andes versus $3,248 in Phuket.
🌍Living in San Martin de los Andes costs roughly 23% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: San Martin de los Andes26% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Martin de los Andes
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.68ARS 15.9K
$4.48฿150
138.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.42ARS 51.1K
$45.59฿1,521
-24.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.22ARS 13.7K
$8.76฿292
5.25%
Cappuccino
$2.70ARS 4,012
$2.97฿99.0
-9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64ARS 2,438
$0.69฿22.90
137.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49ARS 2,214
$0.39฿13.04
282.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.14ARS 3,177
$2.53฿84.4
-15.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02ARS 4,482
$3.75฿125
-19.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Martin de los Andes
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26ARS 1,878
$2.15฿71.6
-41.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61ARS 2,395
$1.82฿60.6
-11.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.04ARS 3,031
$2.18฿72.9
-6.42%
Eggs
$2.25ARS 3,347
$2.25฿75.0
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.27ARS 15.3K
$20.00฿667
-48.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.07ARS 9,013
$3.63฿121
67.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.50ARS 14.1K
$13.56฿452
-29.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98ARS 2,936
$3.24฿108
-38.89%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07ARS 3,079
$1.64฿54.6
26.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31ARS 1,944
$2.33฿77.8
-43.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.56ARS 3,801
$2.07฿69.1
23.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14ARS 1,696
$1.55฿51.6
-26.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.25ARS 1,861
$1.46฿48.54
-14.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32ARS 1,964
$0.98฿32.86
34.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47ARS 2,187
$0.48฿16.09
206.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06ARS 4,545
$4.35฿145
-29.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.60ARS 8,318
$18.57฿620
-69.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99ARS 2,958
$1.86฿61.9
6.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19ARS 4,741
$2.65฿88.6
20.38%
🚌 Getting Around
San Martin de los Andes
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.83ARS 1,231
$1.42฿47.28
-41.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.57฿386
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.53ARS 2,276
$3.17฿106
-51.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.88ARS 1,304
$1.03฿34.41
-14.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.83ARS 8,653
$13.89฿463
-58.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06ARS 1,581
$1.34฿44.84
-20.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2KARS 40.3M
$27.8K฿927.1K
-2.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0KARS 44.6M
$33.4K฿1.1M
-10.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Martin de los Andes
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.0ARS 101.0K
$123฿4,105
-44.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.21ARS 25.6K
$13.77฿459
24.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.80ARS 33.9K
$18.33฿611
24.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Martin de los Andes
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.82ARS 38.3K
$60.7฿2,025
-57.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.52ARS 20.1K
$17.16฿573
-21.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.08ARS 9,029
$8.87฿296
-31.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Martin de los Andes
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$218ARS 323.3K
$688฿22.9K
-68.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,721ARS 4.0M
$15.8K฿526.4K
-82.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Martin de los Andes
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.6ARS 109.2K
$59.3฿1,978
24.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.4ARS 101.6K
$34.69฿1,157
97.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116ARS 171.7K
$115฿3,843
0.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113ARS 167.1K
$83.8฿2,794
34.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Martin de los Andes
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$338ARS 502.1K
$621฿20.7K
-45.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237ARS 351.9K
$446฿14.9K
-46.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$681ARS 1.0M
$2,034฿67.8K
-66.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$530ARS 787.5K
$1,496฿49.9K
-64.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,359ARS 3.5M
$3,455฿115.3K
-31.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,650ARS 2.4M
$2,531฿84.4K
-34.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Martin de los Andes
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$494฿16.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
58.5
5.33
997.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Martin de los Andes: July 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $338 in San Martin de los Andes and $621 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in San Martin de los Andes vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $291 per month, with San Martin de los Andes 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 Martin de los Andes vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than San Martin de los Andes?
San Martin de los Andes is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,469 in San Martin de los Andes and $1,896 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 Martin de los Andes and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $338 in San Martin de los Andes versus $621 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $218 in San Martin de los Andes versus $688 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 Martin de los Andes or in Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in San Martin de los Andes – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in San Martin de los Andes or in Phuket?
At $980 in San Martin de los Andes versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San Martin de los Andes but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes San Martin de los Andes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is San Martin de los Andes or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, San Martin de los Andes 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 Martin de los Andes or Phuket?
Safety-wise, San Martin de los Andes 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 Martin de los Andes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
San Martin de los Andes vs other spots: cost of living compared