🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $991 in Tehuacan versus $1,265 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Tehuacan versus $2,297 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,181 in Tehuacan versus $3,329 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Tehuacan costs roughly 22% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tehuacan26% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tehuacan
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.67MX$81.6
$4.70฿154
-0.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.38MX$461
$45.37฿1,489
-41.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.71MX$99.7
$8.43฿277
-32.27%
Cappuccino
$2.62MX$45.69
$2.93฿96.1
-10.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35MX$23.59
$0.69฿22.50
95.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82MX$14.31
$0.37฿12.04
121.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.70MX$29.69
$2.41฿79.0
-29.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75MX$65.5
$3.72฿122
0.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tehuacan
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46MX$25.42
$2.23฿73.3
-34.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67MX$29.21
$1.83฿60.1
-8.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41MX$24.71
$2.17฿71.1
-35.02%
Eggs
$1.70MX$29.62
$2.21฿72.6
-23.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.19MX$108
$19.74฿648
-68.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.08MX$106
$3.63฿119
67.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.69MX$169
$13.53฿444
-28.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.80
$3.28฿108
-37.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30MX$22.62
$1.61฿52.9
-19.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.21
$2.41฿79.0
-35.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56MX$27.28
$2.08฿68.4
-25.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.77
$1.53฿50.2
33.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.52MX$26.46
$1.48฿48.58
2.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99MX$17.22
$0.99฿32.44
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64MX$11.25
$0.51฿16.74
25.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04MX$70.6
$4.41฿145
-8.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.85MX$277
$19.38฿636
-18.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72MX$12.51
$1.78฿58.4
-59.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$19.07
$2.71฿89.0
-59.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Tehuacan
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61MX$10.63
$1.37฿44.99
-55.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.39฿374
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.32MX$23.01
$3.02฿99.1
-56.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.27
$0.99฿32.63
-69.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.44MX$95.1
$14.10฿463
-61.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21MX$21.05
$1.36฿44.71
-11.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KMX$328.4K
$28.2K฿925.3K
-33.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KMX$407.5K
$32.9K฿1.1M
-29.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tehuacan
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.01MX$716
$122฿3,993
-66.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.43MX$479
$13.57฿445
102.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.75MX$362
$18.31฿601
13.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tehuacan
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.39MX$636
$60.2฿1,976
-39.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.03MX$280
$17.14฿562
-6.48%
Cinema Ticket
$4.35MX$75.9
$8.69฿285
-49.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tehuacan
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$426MX$7,434
$693฿22.8K
-38.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,628MX$63.4K
$15.7K฿514.7K
-76.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tehuacan
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,018
$59.5฿1,953
-2.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.17MX$789
$34.77฿1,141
29.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,795
$115฿3,760
-10.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,858
$83.3฿2,733
27.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tehuacan
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505MX$8,818
$613฿20.1K
-17.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$392MX$6,848
$437฿14.3K
-10.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$936MX$16.4K
$2,094฿68.7K
-55.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774MX$13.5K
$1,509฿49.5K
-48.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,971MX$34.4K
$3,749฿123.0K
-47.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,281MX$22.4K
$2,616฿85.8K
-51.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tehuacan
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$508฿16.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.33
112.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tehuacan: May 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $505 in Tehuacan and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Tehuacan vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $293 per month, with Tehuacan 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
Tehuacan vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Tehuacan?
Tehuacan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,487 in Tehuacan and $1,898 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 Tehuacan and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $505 in Tehuacan versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $426 in Tehuacan versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Tehuacan or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Tehuacan – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Tehuacan or Phuket?
At $991 in Tehuacan versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tehuacan but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tehuacan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Tehuacan or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Tehuacan 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, Tehuacan or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Tehuacan 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 Tehuacan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.