Cost of Living Comparison Between Carapicuiba and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Carapicuiba and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $736 per month in Carapicuiba vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,157 per month in Carapicuiba vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,579 per month in Carapicuiba vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Carapicuiba is about 42% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Carapicuiba and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Carapicuiba 45% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carapicuiba
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.21 R$31.99
$4.70 ฿154
32.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.92 R$170
$45.37 ฿1,489
-27.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.33 R$37.74
$8.43 ฿277
-13.05%
Cappuccino
$1.80 R$9.28
$2.93 ฿96.1
-38.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 R$6.20
$0.69 ฿22.50
73.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 R$4.67
$0.37 ฿12.04
145.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 R$9.04
$2.41 ฿79.0
-26.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 R$14.76
$3.72 ฿122
-22.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carapicuiba
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 R$5.48
$2.23 ฿73.3
-52.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.58 R$8.15
$1.83 ฿60.1
-13.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 R$6.68
$2.17 ฿71.1
-40.09%
Eggs
$2.27 R$11.72
$2.21 ฿72.6
2.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.44 R$43.49
$19.74 ฿648
-57.24%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 R$19.92
$3.63 ฿119
6.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.77 R$45.18
$13.53 ฿444
-35.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 R$11.21
$3.28 ฿108
-33.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 R$9.18
$1.61 ฿52.9
10.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.42 R$7.34
$2.41 ฿79.0
-41.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.69 R$8.71
$2.08 ฿68.4
-18.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 R$6.78
$1.53 ฿50.2
-13.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.37
$1.48 ฿48.58
-16.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 R$3.88
$0.99 ฿32.44
-24.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 R$3.52
$0.51 ฿16.74
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.10 R$10.84
$4.41 ฿145
-52.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.88 R$45.74
$19.38 ฿636
-54.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 R$7.04
$1.78 ฿58.4
-23.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 R$11.72
$2.71 ฿89.0
-15.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Carapicuiba
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 R$4.79
$1.37 ฿44.99
-32.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.44 R$229
$11.39 ฿374
290.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.06 R$5.48
$3.02 ฿99.1
-64.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 R$3.66
$0.99 ฿32.63
-28.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.38 R$38.00
$14.10 ฿463
-47.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 R$5.64
$1.36 ฿44.71
-19.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K R$111.1K
$28.2K ฿925.3K
-23.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K R$146.9K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-13.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carapicuiba
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.3 R$285
$122 ฿3,993
-54.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.35 R$79.1
$13.57 ฿445
13.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.05 R$98.2
$18.31 ฿601
4.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carapicuiba
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.36 R$89.4
$60.2 ฿1,976
-71.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.24 R$140
$17.14 ฿562
58.93%
Cinema Ticket
$5.42 R$27.93
$8.69 ฿285
-37.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carapicuiba
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$319 R$1,644
$693 ฿22.8K
-53.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,827 R$35.2K
$15.7K ฿514.7K
-56.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carapicuiba
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8 R$262
$59.5 ฿1,953
-14.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.98 R$221
$34.77 ฿1,141
23.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.0 R$402
$115 ฿3,760
-31.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.3 R$367
$83.3 ฿2,733
-14.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carapicuiba
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$206 R$1,060
$613 ฿20.1K
-66.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 R$696
$437 ฿14.3K
-69.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$309 R$1,593
$2,094 ฿68.7K
-85.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$224 R$1,154
$1,509 ฿49.5K
-85.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,591 R$8,196
$3,749 ฿123.0K
-57.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,165 R$6,002
$2,616 ฿85.8K
-55.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carapicuiba
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$313 R$1,611
$508 ฿16.7K
-38.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.92
5.33
104.88%

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

Last update for Carapicuiba: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $206 in Carapicuiba versus $613 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 62% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Carapicuiba versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $293 – making Carapicuiba 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
Carapicuiba vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Carapicuiba?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 72%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,104 per month in Carapicuiba and $1,898 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Carapicuiba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Carapicuiba and Phuket?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Carapicuiba or Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Carapicuiba and $45.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Carapicuiba or Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Carapicuiba, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Phuket at $1,265. In Carapicuiba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Carapicuiba or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Carapicuiba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Carapicuiba or Phuket?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Carapicuiba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Carapicuiba vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities