ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,043 in Braganca versus $1,232 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,575 in Braganca versus $2,255 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,106 in Braganca versus $3,279 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Braganca costs roughly 15% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Braganca22% lower, Phuket8% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Braganca
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.24âŽ7.89
$4.63āļŋ151
99.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.57âŽ29.52
$46.84āļŋ1,523
-26.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.06âŽ7.73
$8.84āļŋ287
2.49%
Cappuccino
$1.50âŽ1.28
$3.00āļŋ97.4
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57âŽ1.34
$0.74āļŋ24.11
112.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91âŽ0.78
$0.37āļŋ11.88
145.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75âŽ1.50
$2.44āļŋ79.3
-28.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92âŽ2.50
$3.61āļŋ117
-19.11%
ð Groceries & Markets
Braganca
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10âŽ0.94
$2.26āļŋ73.5
-51.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40âŽ1.20
$1.84āļŋ59.8
-23.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38âŽ1.18
$2.24āļŋ73.0
-38.39%
Eggs
$3.11âŽ2.66
$2.32āļŋ75.3
34.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.87âŽ6.72
$19.67āļŋ639
-59.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.94âŽ5.08
$3.65āļŋ119
62.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.59âŽ9.04
$13.10āļŋ426
-19.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36âŽ2.02
$3.39āļŋ110
-30.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53âŽ1.31
$1.64āļŋ53.4
-6.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01âŽ1.71
$2.41āļŋ78.5
-16.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.56âŽ2.19
$2.03āļŋ66.0
26.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37âŽ1.17
$1.56āļŋ50.6
-12.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82âŽ1.55
$1.50āļŋ48.66
21.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.72âŽ1.47
$1.02āļŋ33.30
68.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87âŽ0.75
$0.49āļŋ15.91
77.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.10âŽ5.21
$4.45āļŋ145
37.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.71âŽ4.02
$18.88āļŋ614
-75.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09âŽ0.93
$1.78āļŋ57.7
-38.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35âŽ2.01
$2.75āļŋ89.5
-14.55%
ð Getting Around
Braganca
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.37âŽ2.02
$1.40āļŋ45.54
69.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.38âŽ9.72
$11.48āļŋ373
-0.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.61âŽ3.93
$3.12āļŋ101
47.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03âŽ0.88
$1.00āļŋ32.48
3.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.72âŽ12.57
$14.09āļŋ458
4.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91âŽ1.63
$1.35āļŋ43.93
41.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.5KâŽ32.8K
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
41.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5KâŽ33.7K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
19.91%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Braganca
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134âŽ115
$125āļŋ4,063
7.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.74âŽ16.86
$13.57āļŋ441
45.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.34âŽ25.05
$18.52āļŋ602
58.42%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Braganca
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.37âŽ30.20
$61.5āļŋ1,999
-42.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.91âŽ5.05
$16.84āļŋ547
-64.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.95âŽ5.08
$9.19āļŋ299
-35.26%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Braganca
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$459âŽ392
$698āļŋ22.7K
-34.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,453âŽ7,219
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
-45.79%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Braganca
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.74âŽ19.42
$57.8āļŋ1,878
-60.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.56âŽ20.12
$35.24āļŋ1,146
-33.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.9âŽ80.2
$113āļŋ3,677
-16.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154âŽ131
$86.4āļŋ2,808
78.06%
ð Accommodation & Living
Braganca
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435âŽ372
$616āļŋ20.0K
-29.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$314âŽ268
$446āļŋ14.5K
-29.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$756âŽ646
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
-63.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$466âŽ398
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
-68.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,132âŽ966
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
-70.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$873âŽ745
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
-67.06%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Braganca
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,202âŽ1,027
$524āļŋ17.0K
129.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
5.33
-6.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Braganca: April 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $435 in Braganca and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Braganca pays 130% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
ðDining out: $35.00 in Braganca vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $292 per month, with Braganca 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
Braganca vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Braganca and Phuket?
Braganca and Phuket differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,043 vs $1,232 including rent). Braganca is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Braganca or Phuket?
Braganca pays 130% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Braganca and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $435 in Braganca versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Braganca and Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Braganca runs roughly 1% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Braganca and Phuket?
Childcare runs $459 in Braganca versus $698 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,043 in Braganca versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Braganca but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Braganca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Braganca and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Braganca or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Braganca 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.
Where should expats move: Braganca or Phuket?
Expats usually find Braganca gentler on the wallet â expenses run 18% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.