Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago de Cuba and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Santiago de Cuba and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $62.4 in Santiago de Cuba versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $105 in Santiago de Cuba versus $2,255 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $147 in Santiago de Cuba versus $3,279 in Phuket.

Living in Santiago de Cuba costs roughly 95% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Santiago de Cuba 95% lower, Phuket 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,523

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿287

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿97.4

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ฿24.11

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.88

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿117

Milk (1 liter)

$3.90 CUP 93.7

$2.26 ฿73.5

72.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿59.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.0

Eggs

$1.99 CUP 47.67

$2.32 ฿75.3

-14.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿639

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿426

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿110

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.4

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.5

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.6

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.66

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.30

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿15.91

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿614

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 CUP 59.4

$1.78 ฿57.7

38.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 CUP 60.8

$2.75 ฿89.5

-8.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.54

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿373

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿101

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.48

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿458

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿43.93

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.2K ฿883.7K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$125 ฿4,063

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.57 ฿441

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿602

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿1,999

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿299

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$698 ฿22.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿506.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,146

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,677

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,808

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$599 CUP 14.4K

$2,048 ฿66.6K

-70.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿122.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Santiago de Cuba: April 28, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Santiago de Cuba vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago de Cuba is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear. The 1873% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $93.6 in Santiago de Cuba 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 353% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $62.4 per month in Santiago de Cuba versus $1,232 in Phuket – a 1873% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $62.4 in Santiago de Cuba versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Santiago de Cuba but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Santiago de Cuba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Santiago de Cuba 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.

Safety-wise, Santiago de Cuba 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.

Expats usually find Santiago de Cuba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1873% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.