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Mexico City vs Phuket cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇹🇭 PhuketPhuket is 45% cheaper than Mexico City
Living on $3,238 a month in Mexico City feels like about $1,792 in Phuket — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$167 vs $92.3
Per month
$3,238 vs $1,792
Local meal
MX$ 150 vs ฿ 90
$8.06 vs $2.73
Taxi 5 km
MX$ 78 vs ฿ 78
$4.19 vs $2.36
At a glance
FoodPhuket 57% cheaper
Cafés & drinksPhuket 5% cheaper
TransportMexico City 40% cheaper
StayPhuket 48% cheaper
FunPhuket 11% cheaper
- Where Phuket is clearly cheaper: Local meal (66%↓), Street food (66%↓), Convenience store (56%↓)
- Where Mexico City is clearly cheaper: Transit (73%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Mexico City | Phuket | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | MX$ 150$8.06 | ฿ 90$2.73 | Phuket −66% |
| Street food1 item | MX$ 68$3.66 | ฿ 41$1.24 | Phuket −66% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | MX$ 450$24.2 | ฿ 500$15.2 | Phuket −37% |
| Coffeeone cup | MX$ 65$3.49 | ฿ 90$2.73 | Phuket −22% |
| Beerone bottle | MX$ 60$3.23 | ฿ 110$3.33 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | MX$ 160$8.6 | ฿ 290$8.79 | similar |
| Bottled water | MX$ 15$0.81 | ฿ 12$0.36 | Phuket −55% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | MX$ 38$2.04 | ฿ 30$0.91 | Phuket −56% |
| Taxi5 km in town | MX$ 78$4.19 | ฿ 78$2.36 | Phuket −44% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | MX$ 66$3.55 | ฿ 82$2.48 | Phuket −30% |
| Transitone ride | MX$ 6$0.32 | ฿ 40$1.21 | Mexico City −73% |
| Scooter rentalper day | MX$ 410$22 | ฿ 330$10 | Phuket −55% |
| Hotel night3-star | MX$ 1,800$96.8 | ฿ 1,800$54.5 | Phuket −44% |
| Studio rent (month) | MX$ 18,000$968 | ฿ 15,000$455 | Phuket −53% |
| Laundry | MX$ 33$1.77 | ฿ 61$1.85 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | MX$ 160$8.6 | ฿ 330$10 | Mexico City −14% |
| Haircutcut | MX$ 170$9.14 | ฿ 140$4.24 | Phuket −54% |
| Massage1 hour | MX$ 490$26.3 | ฿ 410$12.4 | Phuket −53% |
| Half-day tourper person | MX$ 660$35.5 | ฿ 1,200$36.4 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | MX$ 160$8.6 | ฿ 330$10 | Mexico City −14% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Mexico City or Phuket?
Phuket is 45% cheaper than Mexico City. Daily budget $167 vs $92.3; a month $3,238 vs $1,792.
How do monthly costs compare between Mexico City and Phuket?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Mexico City is about $3,238 and Phuket about $1,792 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.