Phuket vs Salamanca: cost of living for digital nomads
Phuket, Thailand and Salamanca, Spain, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Salamanca is about 2% cheaper than Phuket for a month of nomad living ($1,420 vs $1,450).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $580 in Salamanca against $600 in Phuket.
- Salamanca scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 7/10).
- Phuket is tropical; Salamanca is temperate.
Phuket wins 2 of the measured lines; Salamanca wins 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Phuket or Salamanca?
Salamanca is cheaper: about $1,420/month against $1,450/month in Phuket, roughly 2% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Salamanca?
Salamanca scores higher on safety: 9/10 against 7/10 for Phuket.
Which has faster internet, Phuket or Salamanca?
Phuket and Salamanca have about the same typical internet speed, 180 Mbps.
| Line | Phuket | Salamanca |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,450 | $1,420 |
| Rent | $600 | $580 |
| Food | $380 | $390 |
| Transport | $70 | $30 |
| Coworking | $120 | $105 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 180 | 180 |
| Climate | tropical | temperate |
| City size | mid | mid |
| Setting | island | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 8/10 | 6/10 |
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Phuket September 10, 2026, Salamanca September 11, 2026.