๐A single person spends $721 per month in Cerquilho vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,163 per month in Cerquilho vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $1,605 per month in Cerquilho vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.
๐Cerquilho is about 43% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both Cerquilho and Phuket are more affordable than the global median โ Cerquilho46% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Cerquilho
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.17R$30.68
$4.66เธฟ150
32.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.26R$140
$46.44เธฟ1,496
-39.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12R$35.41
$8.68เธฟ280
-17.97%
Cappuccino
$1.76R$8.76
$2.95เธฟ95.0
-40.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33R$6.60
$0.70เธฟ22.52
90.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86R$4.28
$0.39เธฟ12.70
120.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.11R$5.50
$2.53เธฟ81.6
-56.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74R$13.63
$3.78เธฟ122
-27.51%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Cerquilho
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14R$5.66
$2.22เธฟ71.5
-48.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42R$7.06
$1.80เธฟ57.8
-21.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26R$6.27
$2.19เธฟ70.4
-42.47%
Eggs
$2.41R$11.96
$2.31เธฟ74.5
4.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.10R$40.25
$19.34เธฟ623
-58.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.85R$9.17
$3.77เธฟ121
-50.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.44R$27.03
$13.22เธฟ426
-58.85%
Apples(1kg)
$1.77R$8.78
$3.33เธฟ107
-46.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79R$8.90
$1.65เธฟ53.1
8.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.10R$5.46
$2.29เธฟ73.7
-51.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57R$7.81
$1.99เธฟ64.1
-21.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24R$6.18
$1.53เธฟ49.24
-18.95%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53R$2.63
$1.51เธฟ48.77
-64.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80R$4.00
$1.03เธฟ33.12
-22.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55R$2.75
$0.51เธฟ16.57
7.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.28R$6.36
$4.41เธฟ142
-70.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.51R$47.25
$19.41เธฟ625
-51.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11R$5.50
$1.80เธฟ58.0
-38.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75R$13.66
$2.68เธฟ86.4
2.61%
๐ Getting Around
Cerquilho
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94R$4.67
$1.43เธฟ46.11
-34.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.25R$195
$11.70เธฟ377
235.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93R$4.63
$3.04เธฟ97.9
-69.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07R$5.31
$1.04เธฟ33.37
2.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.78R$43.65
$13.68เธฟ441
-35.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02R$5.05
$1.30เธฟ41.85
-21.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KR$113.4K
$27.9Kเธฟ898.9K
-18.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9KR$143.7K
$33.0Kเธฟ1.1M
-12.50%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cerquilho
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$47.88R$238
$123เธฟ3,962
-61.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.63R$62.8
$13.82เธฟ445
-8.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.14R$70.3
$18.86เธฟ608
-25.03%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Cerquilho
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.13R$110
$61.2เธฟ1,970
-63.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.77R$108
$16.81เธฟ541
29.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.28R$26.22
$8.87เธฟ286
-40.47%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Cerquilho
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$314R$1,563
$696เธฟ22.4K
-54.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,755R$33.6K
$16.1Kเธฟ517.4K
-57.93%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Cerquilho
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.33R$151
$59.3เธฟ1,910
-48.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.72R$88.1
$34.85เธฟ1,123
-49.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.9R$273
$113เธฟ3,646
-51.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.3R$359
$85.1เธฟ2,740
-14.98%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Cerquilho
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$314R$1,561
$615เธฟ19.8K
-48.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$213R$1,061
$448เธฟ14.4K
-52.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$574R$2,851
$2,085เธฟ67.2K
-72.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$422R$2,096
$1,496เธฟ48.2K
-71.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,835R$9,120
$3,734เธฟ120.3K
-50.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,021R$5,074
$2,662เธฟ85.8K
-61.65%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Cerquilho
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 Cerquilho: April 22, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $314 in Cerquilho versus $615 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $28 in Cerquilho versus $46 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $291 โ making Cerquilho 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
Cerquilho vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cerquilho or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 76% more than Cerquilho, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cerquilho vs Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,082 per month in Cerquilho and $1,904 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cerquilho or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cerquilho, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Cerquilho and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $314 per month in Cerquilho and $696 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Cerquilho or Phuket?
Groceries cost about 75% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cerquilho or Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cerquilho, where all-in costs run around $721, than in Phuket at $1,270. In Cerquilho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cerquilho or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cerquilho costs $721 versus $1,270 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cerquilho compared to 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 โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Cerquilho or Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Cerquilho. 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.