๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $768 in Castanhal versus $1,270 in Phuket.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,219 in Castanhal versus $2,304 in Phuket.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,671 in Castanhal versus $3,339 in Phuket.
๐Living in Castanhal costs roughly 40% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Castanhal43% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Castanhal
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.46R$27.14
$4.66เธฟ150
17.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.84R$133
$46.44เธฟ1,496
-42.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.14R$30.50
$8.68เธฟ280
-29.26%
Cappuccino
$1.73R$8.60
$2.95เธฟ95.0
-41.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08R$5.34
$0.70เธฟ22.52
54.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65R$3.24
$0.39เธฟ12.70
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76R$8.76
$2.53เธฟ81.6
-30.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66R$13.23
$3.78เธฟ122
-29.63%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Castanhal
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92R$4.59
$2.22เธฟ71.5
-58.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44R$7.14
$1.80เธฟ57.8
-20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13R$5.59
$2.19เธฟ70.4
-48.40%
Eggs
$1.95R$9.67
$2.31เธฟ74.5
-15.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.32R$41.35
$19.34เธฟ623
-56.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.54R$17.61
$3.77เธฟ121
-6.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.10R$35.26
$13.22เธฟ426
-46.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04R$10.16
$3.33เธฟ107
-38.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26R$6.25
$1.65เธฟ53.1
-23.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.19R$5.92
$2.29เธฟ73.7
-48.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.44R$7.16
$1.99เธฟ64.1
-27.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15R$5.72
$1.53เธฟ49.24
-24.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.11R$5.52
$1.51เธฟ48.77
-26.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69R$3.42
$1.03เธฟ33.12
-33.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63R$3.12
$0.51เธฟ16.57
23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11R$10.51
$4.41เธฟ142
-52.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.53R$42.42
$19.41เธฟ625
-56.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28R$6.34
$1.80เธฟ58.0
-28.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06R$10.23
$2.68เธฟ86.4
-23.13%
๐ Getting Around
Castanhal
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88R$4.38
$1.43เธฟ46.11
-38.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.11R$189
$11.70เธฟ377
225.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.06R$5.24
$3.04เธฟ97.9
-65.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R$3.51
$1.04เธฟ33.37
-31.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.35R$31.56
$13.68เธฟ441
-53.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07R$5.32
$1.30เธฟ41.85
-17.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KR$104.9K
$27.9Kเธฟ898.9K
-24.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6KR$137.3K
$33.0Kเธฟ1.1M
-16.37%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castanhal
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.7R$301
$123เธฟ3,962
-50.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59R$67.6
$13.82เธฟ445
-1.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.07R$94.8
$18.86เธฟ608
1.11%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Castanhal
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.46R$112
$61.2เธฟ1,970
-63.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.19R$105
$16.81เธฟ541
26.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.14R$30.50
$8.87เธฟ286
-30.78%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Castanhal
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266R$1,322
$696เธฟ22.4K
-61.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,577R$32.7K
$16.1Kเธฟ517.4K
-59.04%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Castanhal
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.69R$242
$59.3เธฟ1,910
-17.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.48R$211
$34.85เธฟ1,123
21.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.4R$370
$113เธฟ3,646
-34.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.2R$319
$85.1เธฟ2,740
-24.49%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Castanhal
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$314R$1,561
$615เธฟ19.8K
-48.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$213R$1,060
$448เธฟ14.4K
-52.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591R$2,936
$2,085เธฟ67.2K
-71.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$435R$2,161
$1,496เธฟ48.2K
-70.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,632R$8,111
$3,734เธฟ120.3K
-56.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,278R$6,353
$2,662เธฟ85.8K
-51.98%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Castanhal
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$534เธฟ17.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
5.33
104.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Castanhal: April 21, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $314 in Castanhal and $615 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $27 in Castanhal vs $46 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $291 per month, with Castanhal 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
Castanhal vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Castanhal or Phuket?
Castanhal wins on cost โ living expenses run 65% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Castanhal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Castanhal vs Phuket?
You'd need roughly $1,152 in Castanhal and $1,904 in Phuket 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Castanhal vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $314 in Castanhal versus $615 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Castanhal vs Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Castanhal โ a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Castanhal compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $768 per month in Castanhal versus $1,270 in Phuket โ a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Castanhal or Phuket?
At $768 in Castanhal versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Castanhal but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Castanhal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Castanhal or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Castanhal delivers better value โ similar infrastructure at $768 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Castanhal hard to pass up.
How safe is Castanhal compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Castanhal 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Castanhal gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 65% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.