😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,777 in Zaragoza versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Zaragoza versus $2,284 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,438 in Zaragoza versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Zaragoza is roughly 42% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Zaragoza is 33% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zaragoza
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.07€14.91
$4.55฿153
275.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.4€51.0
$46.18฿1,550
26.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.63€9.28
$8.84฿297
20.25%
Cappuccino
$2.18€1.91
$3.06฿103
-28.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05€2.67
$0.73฿24.36
317.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.64
$0.40฿13.37
370.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.25€3.71
$2.43฿81.6
74.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53€3.09
$3.78฿127
-6.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zaragoza
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38€1.21
$2.26฿75.8
-38.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37€2.07
$1.81฿60.8
30.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21€1.06
$2.25฿75.7
-46.22%
Eggs
$2.59€2.26
$2.25฿75.4
15.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.07€14.92
$19.51฿655
-12.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.78€6.80
$3.65฿122
113.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.07€18.41
$13.05฿438
61.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.30
$3.23฿109
-18.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.07€1.81
$1.62฿54.3
27.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.53€2.21
$2.38฿80.0
6.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.46€3.02
$2.03฿68.0
70.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08€1.81
$1.53฿51.5
35.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.35€2.05
$1.50฿50.4
56.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.90€1.66
$0.98฿32.85
93.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.68
$0.52฿17.36
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.41€5.60
$4.44฿149
44.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.42€3.86
$18.32฿615
-75.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17€1.02
$1.86฿62.6
-37.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.10
$2.68฿90.0
-10.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Zaragoza
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.76€1.54
$1.41฿47.37
24.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.90€30.49
$11.70฿393
198.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.38€2.08
$3.11฿104
-23.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00€0.88
$1.04฿35.00
-3.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.88€26.98
$14.11฿474
118.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81€1.58
$1.31฿44.02
38.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K€33.4K
$27.8K฿933.8K
37.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K€26.6K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-8.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zaragoza
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114€99.9
$122฿4,110
-6.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.72€18.10
$13.59฿456
52.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.13€31.56
$18.70฿628
93.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zaragoza
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.27€36.06
$60.5฿2,031
-31.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.08€9.68
$16.98฿570
-34.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.95€8.69
$9.07฿305
9.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zaragoza
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$515€450
$706฿23.7K
-27.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,340€7,287
$15.8K฿530.5K
-47.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zaragoza
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.6€65.2
$58.6฿1,965
27.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.02€36.72
$35.36฿1,187
18.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7€78.4
$115฿3,876
-22.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111€96.8
$83.7฿2,811
32.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zaragoza
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$861€752
$626฿21.0K
37.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$794€693
$445฿14.9K
78.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,125€983
$2,040฿68.5K
-44.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,173€1,025
$1,492฿50.1K
-21.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,213€2,807
$3,483฿116.9K
-7.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,960€1,713
$2,577฿86.5K
-23.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zaragoza
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,986€1,735
$500฿16.8K
297.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.75
5.33
-29.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zaragoza: July 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $861 in Zaragoza and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zaragoza pays 297% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $58.0 in Zaragoza vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $306 vs $289 per month, with Phuket 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
Zaragoza vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Zaragoza?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Zaragoza or Phuket?
Average pay runs 297% higher in Zaragoza, 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 Zaragoza and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $861 in Zaragoza versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $515 in Zaragoza versus $706 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 Zaragoza and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Zaragoza. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Zaragoza or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,777 in Zaragoza, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Zaragoza. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Zaragoza or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Zaragoza, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Zaragoza or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Zaragoza 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 – expenses run 42% less than in Zaragoza. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.