Cost of Living Comparison Between Foz do Iguaçu and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Foz do Iguaçu and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $856 per month in Foz do Iguaçu vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,330 per month in Foz do Iguaçu vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,804 per month in Foz do Iguaçu vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.

Foz do Iguaçu is about 32% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Foz do Iguaçu and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Foz do Iguaçu 38% lower, Phuket 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Foz do Iguaçu
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.94 R$30.27
$4.56 ฿150
30.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.08 R$194
$32.62 ฿1,073
16.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.70 R$34.16
$8.90 ฿293
-24.72%
Cappuccino
$1.75 R$8.95
$2.80 ฿92.2
-37.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26 R$6.45
$0.88 ฿28.94
43.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 R$3.06
$0.49 ฿16.08
22.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 R$7.97
$2.39 ฿78.5
-34.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 R$15.06
$3.71 ฿122
-20.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Foz do Iguaçu
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 R$4.65
$1.79 ฿58.8
-49.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 R$7.08
$1.44 ฿47.40
-3.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 R$8.35
$1.58 ฿52.1
3.80%
Eggs
$2.65 R$13.54
$2.13 ฿69.9
24.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.03 R$40.96
$19.92 ฿655
-59.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.89 R$19.85
$3.43 ฿113
13.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.10 R$41.31
$11.33 ฿372
-28.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 R$11.05
$2.95 ฿97.0
-26.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 R$6.07
$1.72 ฿56.6
-30.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.98 R$4.97
$2.32 ฿76.5
-57.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 R$5.80
$2.08 ฿68.4
-45.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 R$5.05
$1.47 ฿48.34
-32.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 R$5.30
$1.36 ฿44.65
-23.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 R$4.32
$1.10 ฿36.13
-22.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 R$4.08
$0.57 ฿18.89
40.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83 R$14.45
$4.27 ฿140
-33.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.63 R$38.92
$18.42 ฿606
-58.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 R$9.27
$1.87 ฿61.5
-2.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 R$14.67
$2.92 ฿96.1
-1.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Foz do Iguaçu
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.99 R$5.04
$2.22 ฿73.0
-55.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.2 R$256
$22.90 ฿753
119.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.98 R$4.99
$3.03 ฿99.6
-67.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.32 R$6.72
$1.07 ฿35.32
23.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.93 ฿129
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 R$6.24
$1.49 ฿49.06
-18.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K R$99.7K
$27.1K ฿892.0K
-27.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$27.5K ฿902.6K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Foz do Iguaçu
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.0 R$352
$103 ฿3,380
-32.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.38 R$93.7
$10.99 ฿361
67.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62 R$100
$17.51 ฿576
12.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Foz do Iguaçu
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.92 R$96.5
$53.5 ฿1,760
-64.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.68 R$28.96
$11.20 ฿368
-49.29%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 R$43.77
$7.48 ฿246
14.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Foz do Iguaçu
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$231 R$1,179
$557 ฿18.3K
-58.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.9K ฿389.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Foz do Iguaçu
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.12 R$230
$64.1 ฿2,107
-29.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.68 R$90.2
$29.07 ฿956
-39.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.44 R$252
$96.0 ฿3,155
-48.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.39 R$191
$90.3 ฿2,970
-58.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Foz do Iguaçu
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$371 R$1,894
$730 ฿24.0K
-49.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 R$1,552
$500 ฿16.4K
-39.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$675 R$3,444
$2,090 ฿68.7K
-67.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 R$2,506
$1,209 ฿39.8K
-59.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,259 R$6,420
$3,596 ฿118.2K
-64.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$864 R$4,408
$2,512 ฿82.6K
-65.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Foz do Iguaçu
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$385 R$1,965
$503 ฿16.6K
-23.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.16
5.57
46.50%

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

Last update for Foz do Iguaçu: September 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $371 in Foz do Iguaçu versus $730 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 31% 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 $38.00 in Foz do Iguaçu versus $33.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $184 in Foz do Iguaçu vs $273 in Phuket – so Foz do Iguaçu 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
Foz do Iguaçu vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Foz do Iguaçu and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $856 in Foz do Iguaçu, $1,253 in Phuket – roughly 46% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Foz do Iguaçu compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,284 per month in Foz do Iguaçu and $1,880 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Foz do Iguaçu and Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Foz do Iguaçu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Foz do Iguaçu and Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $231 per month in Foz do Iguaçu and $557 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 49% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Foz do Iguaçu, where all-in costs run around $856, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Foz do Iguaçu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Foz do Iguaçu and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $856 in Foz do Iguaçu to $1,253 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Foz do Iguaçu or Phuket safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Foz do Iguaçu and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Foz do Iguaçu. 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.

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