ðA single person spends $1,714 per month in Barreiro vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,390 per month in Barreiro vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,065 per month in Barreiro vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.
ðBarreiro costs about 39% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðBarreiro sits 28% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Barreiro
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.83âŽ11.81
$4.63āļŋ151
198.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.98âŽ39.27
$46.84āļŋ1,523
-1.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.00âŽ8.54
$8.84āļŋ287
13.12%
Cappuccino
$2.54âŽ2.17
$3.00āļŋ97.4
-15.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11âŽ1.80
$0.74āļŋ24.11
185.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36âŽ2.02
$0.37āļŋ11.88
537.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34âŽ1.99
$2.44āļŋ79.3
-4.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56âŽ3.04
$3.61āļŋ117
-1.39%
ð Groceries & Markets
Barreiro
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07âŽ0.92
$2.26āļŋ73.5
-52.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52âŽ1.29
$1.84āļŋ59.8
-17.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77âŽ1.51
$2.24āļŋ73.0
-20.98%
Eggs
$3.10âŽ2.64
$2.32āļŋ75.3
33.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20âŽ7.86
$19.67āļŋ639
-53.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.82âŽ6.68
$3.65āļŋ119
114.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.44âŽ12.33
$13.10āļŋ426
10.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56âŽ2.19
$3.39āļŋ110
-24.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46âŽ1.25
$1.64āļŋ53.4
-10.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11âŽ1.80
$2.41āļŋ78.5
-12.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45âŽ1.24
$2.03āļŋ66.0
-28.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46âŽ1.25
$1.56āļŋ50.6
-6.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13âŽ1.82
$1.50āļŋ48.66
42.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86âŽ0.73
$1.02āļŋ33.30
-15.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71âŽ0.61
$0.49āļŋ15.91
44.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.12âŽ5.22
$4.45āļŋ145
37.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.40âŽ5.47
$18.88āļŋ614
-66.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30âŽ1.11
$1.78āļŋ57.7
-26.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15âŽ0.98
$2.75āļŋ89.5
-58.18%
ð Getting Around
Barreiro
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.49âŽ1.27
$1.40āļŋ45.54
6.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.95âŽ39.24
$11.48āļŋ373
300.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.07âŽ3.47
$3.12āļŋ101
30.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19âŽ1.02
$1.00āļŋ32.48
19.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.23âŽ14.72
$14.09āļŋ458
22.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89âŽ1.61
$1.35āļŋ43.93
40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KâŽ29.4K
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
26.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1KâŽ33.4K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
18.72%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barreiro
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144âŽ123
$125āļŋ4,063
15.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.66âŽ19.35
$13.57āļŋ441
66.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.65âŽ37.28
$18.52āļŋ602
135.69%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Barreiro
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.54âŽ28.65
$61.5āļŋ1,999
-45.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.08âŽ12.02
$16.84āļŋ547
-16.39%
Cinema Ticket
$8.78âŽ7.50
$9.19āļŋ299
-4.46%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Barreiro
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$630âŽ538
$698āļŋ22.7K
-9.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.4KâŽ14.0K
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
5.10%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Barreiro
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.0âŽ73.5
$57.8āļŋ1,878
48.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.84âŽ34.02
$35.24āļŋ1,146
13.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.7âŽ73.2
$113āļŋ3,677
-24.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.9âŽ79.3
$86.4āļŋ2,808
7.55%
ð Accommodation & Living
Barreiro
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$977âŽ834
$616āļŋ20.0K
58.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$796âŽ680
$446āļŋ14.5K
78.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,522âŽ1,299
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
-25.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,094âŽ935
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
-26.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,035âŽ3,446
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
6.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,962âŽ2,530
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
11.83%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Barreiro
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$945âŽ807
$524āļŋ17.0K
80.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.43
5.33
1.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barreiro: April 25, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $977 in Barreiro versus $616 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ð°Salaries run about 80% higher in Barreiro, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Barreiro versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $292 â making Barreiro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Barreiro vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Barreiro and Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,714 in Barreiro, $1,232 in Phuket â roughly 39% apart. Barreiro costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Barreiro compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,571 per month in Barreiro and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Barreiro and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Barreiro or Phuket?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,714 in Barreiro and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category â it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Barreiro and Phuket?
Public transport costs about 300% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Barreiro at $1,714. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barreiro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Barreiro and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,232 in Phuket to $1,714 in Barreiro. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Barreiro or Phuket safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Barreiro and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Barreiro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.