Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Surat Thani Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Surat Thani

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Brasilia versus $809 in Surat Thani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Brasilia versus $1,312 in Surat Thani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,993 in Brasilia versus $1,816 in Surat Thani.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 7% more expensive than Surat Thani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 36% lower, Surat Thani 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Surat Thani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.02 R$35.53
$1.90 ฿62.0
269.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.86 R$197
$18.39 ฿601
111.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.32 R$32.01
$4.68 ฿153
35.04%
Cappuccino
$1.96 R$9.91
$1.59 ฿51.8
23.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 R$5.96
$0.50 ฿16.37
136.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 R$4.35
$0.30 ฿9.78
186.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.85 R$9.39
$2.51 ฿82.1
-26.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 R$16.08
$3.73 ฿122
-14.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Surat Thani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 R$5.04
$1.92 ฿62.8
-48.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 R$8.09
$1.22 ฿39.98
31.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.41 R$7.15
$1.10 ฿35.78
28.18%
Eggs
$2.04 R$10.31
$1.89 ฿61.6
7.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.45 R$47.87
$19.57 ฿639
-51.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 R$17.21
$3.68 ฿120
-7.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.04 R$35.63
$7.93 ฿259
-11.22%
Apples (1kg)
$1.96 R$9.93
$3.35 ฿110
-41.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 R$7.11
$1.69 ฿55.3
-17.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 R$6.09
$2.12 ฿69.1
-43.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.66 R$8.39
$1.78 ฿58.1
-6.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.28
$1.21 ฿39.61
2.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 R$6.61
$1.45 ฿47.42
-9.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 R$4.08
$0.99 ฿32.20
-18.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 R$3.19
$0.41 ฿13.54
53.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13 R$10.78
$3.13 ฿102
-31.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.02 R$45.69
$18.86 ฿616
-52.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 R$5.59
$1.65 ฿53.8
-33.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 R$12.09
$2.69 ฿87.9
-11.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Surat Thani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 R$5.21
$1.10 ฿36.05
-6.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.41 R$225
$21.39 ฿699
107.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.94 R$4.77
$1.06 ฿34.71
-11.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 R$4.08
$0.61 ฿19.90
32.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.57 R$28.21
$3.67 ฿120
51.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 R$5.68
$1.21 ฿39.37
-7.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K R$126.6K
$27.8K ฿907.9K
-10.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1K R$147.4K
$33.6K ฿1.1M
-13.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Surat Thani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.2 R$366
$77.4 ฿2,528
-6.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.08 R$66.2
$13.88 ฿453
-5.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.40 R$103
$18.38 ฿600
10.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Surat Thani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.97 R$126
$50.1 ฿1,636
-50.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.29 R$108
$12.18 ฿398
74.79%
Cinema Ticket
$7.08 R$35.84
$4.49 ฿147
57.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Surat Thani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$488 R$2,473
$703 ฿23.0K
-30.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K R$75.9K
$16.1K ฿525.2K
-6.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Surat Thani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 R$295
$59.3 ฿1,935
-1.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.97 R$213
$35.21 ฿1,150
19.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.8 R$353
$114 ฿3,732
-38.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.2 R$330
$84.6 ฿2,762
-22.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Surat Thani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$408 R$2,064
$240 ฿7,833
69.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$260 R$1,318
$156 ฿5,098
66.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$949 R$4,803
$693 ฿22.6K
36.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$562 R$2,845
$416 ฿13.6K
35.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,540 R$12.9K
$2,094 ฿68.4K
21.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,714 R$8,678
$1,698 ฿55.5K
0.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Surat Thani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$846 R$4,285
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.87
5.33
122.70%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Brasilia: June 1, 2026

Last update for Surat Thani: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Brasilia and $240 in Surat Thani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $39.00 in Brasilia vs $18.00 in Surat Thani. Groceries flip the comparison at $183 vs $255, with Brasilia cheaper for home cooking.

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
Brasilia vs Surat Thani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brasilia and Surat Thani?
Brasilia and Surat Thani differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $809 including rent). Surat Thani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Brasilia compared to Surat Thani?
You'd need roughly $1,293 in Brasilia and $1,213 in Surat Thani to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Brasilia and Surat Thani?
Rent for a central apartment: $408 in Brasilia versus $240 in Surat Thani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Surat Thani – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $39.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Brasilia or Surat Thani?
All in, you'll spend $862 per month in Brasilia versus $809 in Surat Thani – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Brasilia vs Surat Thani?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Surat Thani gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Brasilia and Surat Thani?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Brasilia or Surat Thani safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Brasilia and Surat Thani 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: Brasilia or Surat Thani?
Expats usually find Surat Thani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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