๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $125 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $1,232 in Phuket.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $196 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $2,255 in Phuket.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $267 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $3,279 in Phuket.
๐Living in Santa Cruz del Seibo costs roughly 90% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Santa Cruz del Seibo91% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.94DOPย 592
$4.63เธฟ151
114.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$46.84เธฟ1,523
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.94DOPย 294
$8.84เธฟ287
-44.12%
Cappuccino
$2.05DOPย 122
$3.00เธฟ97.4
-31.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01DOPย 60.4
$0.74เธฟ24.11
36.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52DOPย 31.15
$0.37เธฟ11.88
40.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.44เธฟ79.3
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.61เธฟ117
-
๐ Groceries & Markets
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$2.26เธฟ73.5
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$1.84เธฟ59.8
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$2.24เธฟ73.0
-
Eggs
-
$2.32เธฟ75.3
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$19.67เธฟ639
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.65เธฟ119
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$13.10เธฟ426
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.39เธฟ110
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.64เธฟ53.4
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.41เธฟ78.5
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.03เธฟ66.0
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.56เธฟ50.6
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.50เธฟ48.66
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.02เธฟ33.30
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.49เธฟ15.91
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.45เธฟ145
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.88เธฟ614
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.78เธฟ57.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.75เธฟ89.5
-
๐ Getting Around
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.40เธฟ45.54
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48เธฟ373
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.12เธฟ101
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.00เธฟ32.48
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$14.09เธฟ458
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.35เธฟ43.93
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.2Kเธฟ883.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.9Kเธฟ1.1M
-
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$125เธฟ4,063
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.57เธฟ441
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$18.52เธฟ602
-
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.5เธฟ1,999
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84เธฟ547
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.19เธฟ299
-
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$698เธฟ22.7K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.6Kเธฟ506.9K
-
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.8เธฟ1,878
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$35.24เธฟ1,146
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$113เธฟ3,677
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$86.4เธฟ2,808
-
๐ Accommodation & Living
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$616เธฟ20.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$446เธฟ14.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,048เธฟ66.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,492เธฟ48.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,779เธฟ122.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,649เธฟ86.1K
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Santa Cruz del Seibo
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$524เธฟ17.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Cruz del Seibo: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
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
Santa Cruz del Seibo vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Santa Cruz del Seibo?
Santa Cruz del Seibo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 883% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $188 in Santa Cruz del Seibo and $1,847 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Santa Cruz del Seibo or Phuket?
At $125 in Santa Cruz del Seibo versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santa Cruz del Seibo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Cruz del Seibo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Santa Cruz del Seibo or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Santa Cruz del Seibo 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, Santa Cruz del Seibo or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Santa Cruz del Seibo 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 Santa Cruz del Seibo gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 883% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Santa Cruz del Seibo vs other spots: cost of living compared