Cost of Living Comparison Between Faro and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Faro and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,792 per month in Faro vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,700 per month in Faro vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,609 per month in Faro vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.

Faro costs about 42% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Faro sits 35% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Faro
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.81 €12.04
$4.48 ฿150
208.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.03 €41.00
$45.59 ฿1,525
3.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.19 €8.01
$8.76 ฿293
4.91%
Cappuccino
$2.07 €1.80
$2.97 ฿99.3
-30.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 €2.16
$0.69 ฿22.96
257.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 €1.33
$0.39 ฿13.07
292.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.94 €2.57
$2.53 ฿84.7
16.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.59
$3.75 ฿125
-20.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Faro
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 €1.07
$2.15 ฿71.8
-42.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 €1.25
$1.82 ฿60.7
-20.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 €1.95
$2.18 ฿73.1
2.75%
Eggs
$2.86 €2.49
$2.25 ฿75.2
27.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.55 €12.68
$20.00 ฿669
-27.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.52 €5.69
$3.63 ฿121
79.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.36 €11.65
$13.56 ฿453
-1.47%
Apples (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$3.24 ฿109
-21.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 €1.19
$1.64 ฿54.7
-17.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 €1.26
$2.33 ฿78.0
-38.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.40 €2.09
$2.07 ฿69.3
15.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.50 €1.31
$1.55 ฿51.8
-3.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.22 €1.94
$1.46 ฿48.67
52.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 €0.85
$0.98 ฿32.94
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 €1.02
$0.48 ฿16.13
143.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.53 €5.69
$4.35 ฿146
50.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.21 €4.54
$18.57 ฿621
-71.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 €1.06
$1.86 ฿62.1
-34.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 €2.61
$2.65 ฿88.8
13.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Faro
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.46 €3.01
$1.42 ฿47.40
143.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.07 €37.55
$11.57 ฿387
272.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 €3.34
$3.17 ฿106
20.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 €0.89
$1.03 ฿34.51
-0.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.27 €19.42
$13.89 ฿465
60.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.96 €1.71
$1.34 ฿44.96
46.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K €30.0K
$27.8K ฿929.6K
23.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0K €34.9K
$33.4K ฿1.1M
19.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Faro
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 €121
$123 ฿4,116
12.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.72 €17.19
$13.77 ฿461
43.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.27 €36.85
$18.33 ฿613
130.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Faro
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.80 €39.06
$60.7 ฿2,030
-26.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.88 €18.21
$17.16 ฿574
21.68%
Cinema Ticket
$11.47 €10.00
$8.87 ฿297
29.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Faro
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 €415
$688 ฿23.0K
-30.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.5K €10.9K
$15.8K ฿527.8K
-20.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Faro
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.6 €65.0
$59.3 ฿1,984
25.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.32 €34.28
$34.69 ฿1,160
13.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 €95.7
$115 ฿3,853
-4.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 €91.2
$83.8 ฿2,802
24.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Faro
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 €986
$621 ฿20.8K
82.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$827 €721
$446 ฿14.9K
85.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,929 €1,682
$2,034 ฿68.0K
-5.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,517 €1,323
$1,496 ฿50.0K
1.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,732 €4,126
$3,455 ฿115.6K
36.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,659 €3,190
$2,531 ฿84.7K
44.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Faro
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,341 €1,169
$494 ฿16.5K
171.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.24
5.33
-1.69%

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

Last update for Faro: July 27, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,131 in Faro versus $621 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 172% higher in Faro, 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 $47.00 in Faro versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $252 in Faro vs $291 in Phuket – so Faro wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Faro vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Faro?
Yes – Faro is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,687 per month in Faro and $1,896 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 Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Faro and $688 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Faro and in Phuket?
Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Faro – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Faro or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,264, than in Faro at $1,792. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Faro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Faro or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Faro 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 Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Faro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Faro vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities