🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $809 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $1,253 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,266 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $2,043 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,722 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Maceio - Alagoas costs roughly 35% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Maceio - Alagoas41% lower, Phuket9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maceio - Alagoas
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.85R$29.85
$4.56฿150
28.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.52R$145
$32.62฿1,073
-12.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.73R$29.23
$8.90฿293
-35.62%
Cappuccino
$1.70R$8.67
$2.80฿92.2
-39.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07R$5.46
$0.88฿28.94
21.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47R$2.37
$0.49฿16.08
-4.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58R$8.04
$2.39฿78.5
-33.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93R$20.05
$3.71฿122
5.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maceio - Alagoas
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09R$5.56
$1.79฿58.8
-39.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.92R$9.80
$1.44฿47.40
33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02R$5.20
$1.58฿52.1
-35.44%
Eggs
$1.88R$9.60
$2.13฿69.9
-11.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.02R$46.02
$19.92฿655
-54.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.49R$22.91
$3.43฿113
30.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.24R$36.93
$11.33฿372
-36.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76R$14.07
$2.95฿97.0
-6.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09R$5.56
$1.72฿56.6
-36.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30R$6.63
$2.32฿76.5
-43.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26R$6.41
$2.08฿68.4
-39.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37R$6.96
$1.47฿48.34
-6.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.28R$6.52
$1.36฿44.65
-5.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57R$2.90
$1.10฿36.13
-48.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79R$4.01
$0.57฿18.89
38.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.03R$10.38
$4.27฿140
-52.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.94R$35.39
$18.42฿606
-62.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.49R$7.60
$1.87฿61.5
-20.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45R$7.40
$2.92฿96.1
-50.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Maceio - Alagoas
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74R$3.80
$2.22฿73.0
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.90฿753
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41R$2.08
$3.03฿99.6
-86.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38R$1.93
$1.07฿35.32
-64.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.93฿129
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17R$5.96
$1.49฿49.06
-21.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KR$107.9K
$27.1K฿892.0K
-21.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9KR$152.6K
$27.5K฿902.6K
8.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maceio - Alagoas
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.1R$398
$103฿3,380
-24.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.76R$80.4
$10.99฿361
43.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.30R$88.2
$17.51฿576
-1.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maceio - Alagoas
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.73R$121
$53.5฿1,760
-55.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.20฿368
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.72R$29.18
$7.48฿246
-23.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maceio - Alagoas
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$212R$1,084
$557฿18.3K
-61.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,070R$36.1K
$11.9K฿389.7K
-40.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maceio - Alagoas
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6R$268
$64.1฿2,107
-17.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$75.1R$383
$29.07฿956
158.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.2R$475
$96.0฿3,155
-2.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.3R$399
$90.3฿2,970
-13.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maceio - Alagoas
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$284R$1,448
$730฿24.0K
-61.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237R$1,210
$500฿16.4K
-52.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$474R$2,415
$2,090฿68.7K
-77.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$466R$2,378
$1,209฿39.8K
-61.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,494R$7,617
$3,596฿118.2K
-58.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$663R$3,380
$2,512฿82.6K
-73.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maceio - Alagoas
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$581R$2,961
$503฿16.6K
15.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.17
5.57
82.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maceio - Alagoas: August 31, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Maceio - Alagoas and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maceio - Alagoas pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in Maceio - Alagoas vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $273 per month, with Maceio - Alagoas 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
Maceio - Alagoas vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Maceio - Alagoas?
Maceio - Alagoas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Maceio - Alagoas or Phuket?
Average pay runs 15% higher in Maceio - Alagoas, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Maceio - Alagoas and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $284 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Maceio - Alagoas and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Maceio - Alagoas and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $809 per month in Maceio - Alagoas versus $1,253 in Phuket – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Maceio - Alagoas or in Phuket?
At $809 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maceio - Alagoas but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Maceio - Alagoas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Maceio - Alagoas or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Maceio - Alagoas is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Maceio - Alagoas or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Maceio - Alagoas 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Maceio - Alagoas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Maceio - Alagoas vs other spots: cost of living compared