🙂A single person spends $799 per month in Joinville vs $1,264 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,287 per month in Joinville vs $2,256 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,776 per month in Joinville vs $3,248 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Joinville is about 37% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Joinville and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Joinville40% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Joinville
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.34R$37.53
$4.48฿150
63.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.68R$188
$45.59฿1,525
-19.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.16R$31.50
$8.76฿293
-29.68%
Cappuccino
$1.39R$7.12
$2.97฿99.3
-53.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01R$5.16
$0.69฿22.96
46.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61R$3.13
$0.39฿13.07
56.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.76R$14.15
$2.53฿84.7
9.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45R$12.55
$3.75฿125
-34.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Joinville
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87R$4.47
$2.15฿71.8
-59.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.32R$6.73
$1.82฿60.7
-27.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.76R$3.88
$2.18฿73.1
-65.14%
Eggs
$2.50R$12.81
$2.25฿75.2
11.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.29R$37.32
$20.00฿669
-63.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.11R$15.90
$3.63฿121
-14.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.20R$41.96
$13.56฿453
-39.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.32R$6.74
$3.24฿109
-59.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11R$5.70
$1.64฿54.7
-32.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.16R$5.93
$2.33฿78.0
-50.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38R$7.05
$2.07฿69.3
-33.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15R$5.89
$1.55฿51.8
-25.81%
Onion(1kg)
$0.88R$4.48
$1.46฿48.67
-39.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98R$4.99
$0.98฿32.94
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70R$3.59
$0.48฿16.13
45.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85R$14.59
$4.35฿146
-34.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.35R$47.82
$18.57฿621
-49.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.03R$5.28
$1.86฿62.1
-44.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87R$14.70
$2.65฿88.8
8.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Joinville
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02R$5.23
$1.42฿47.40
-28.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.97R$256
$11.57฿387
331.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.79R$9.14
$3.17฿106
-43.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06R$5.40
$1.03฿34.51
2.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.58R$43.92
$13.89฿465
-38.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04R$5.30
$1.34฿44.96
-22.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KR$124.8K
$27.8K฿929.6K
-12.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8KR$147.4K
$33.4K฿1.1M
-13.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Joinville
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.8R$275
$123฿4,116
-56.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.21R$67.6
$13.77฿461
-4.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.71R$106
$18.33฿613
12.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Joinville
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.61R$116
$60.7฿2,030
-62.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.84R$112
$17.16฿574
27.27%
Cinema Ticket
$7.63R$39.05
$8.87฿297
-13.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Joinville
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$268R$1,369
$688฿23.0K
-61.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,544R$28.4K
$15.8K฿527.8K
-64.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Joinville
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.61R$233
$59.3฿1,984
-23.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$71.8R$367
$34.69฿1,160
106.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.8R$408
$115฿3,853
-30.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.4R$314
$83.8฿2,802
-26.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Joinville
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$270R$1,381
$621฿20.8K
-56.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$209R$1,071
$446฿14.9K
-53.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$554R$2,835
$2,034฿68.0K
-72.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$410R$2,096
$1,496฿50.0K
-72.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,909R$9,768
$3,455฿115.6K
-44.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,297R$6,636
$2,531฿84.7K
-48.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Joinville
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$667R$3,412
$494฿16.5K
35.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.2
5.33
91.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Joinville: July 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $270 in Joinville 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 35% higher in Joinville, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Joinville versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $291 – making Joinville 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
Joinville vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Joinville or Phuket?
Phuket costs about 58% more than Joinville, 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 Joinville and in Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,199 per month in Joinville and $1,896 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Joinville or Phuket?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Joinville, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Joinville or in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 72% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Joinville and in Phuket?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Joinville and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Joinville or in Phuket?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Joinville, where all-in costs run around $799, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Joinville it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Joinville or Phuket?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Joinville costs $799 versus $1,264 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Joinville 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Joinville or to Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Joinville. 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.