Cost of Living Comparison Between Matosinhos and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Matosinhos and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,009 in Matosinhos versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,941 in Matosinhos versus $2,089 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,872 in Matosinhos versus $2,913 in Phuket.

Living in Matosinhos is roughly 59% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Matosinhos is 46% above, Phuket is 8% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Matosinhos
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.07 €12.13
$4.66 ฿154
201.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.86 €42.12
$32.22 ฿1,065
51.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.76 €8.42
$8.68 ฿287
12.44%
Cappuccino
$2.78 €2.40
$2.90 ฿95.8
-4.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 €1.81
$0.84 ฿27.89
150.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 €1.22
$0.49 ฿16.16
187.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 €2.53
$2.48 ฿82.0
18.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 €2.92
$3.73 ฿123
-9.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Matosinhos
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 €0.98
$1.89 ฿62.3
-39.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.78 €1.53
$1.41 ฿46.54
26.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 €1.53
$1.62 ฿53.6
9.26%
Eggs
$3.65 €3.14
$2.24 ฿74.1
62.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.44 €10.72
$19.84 ฿656
-37.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.17 €6.18
$3.48 ฿115
106.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.08 €13.00
$11.37 ฿376
32.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 €1.96
$2.90 ฿95.8
-21.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 €1.41
$1.72 ฿57.0
-4.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.91 €1.64
$2.27 ฿75.1
-15.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 €2.19
$2.13 ฿70.4
19.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.69 €1.46
$1.47 ฿48.72
14.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 €1.60
$1.42 ฿46.92
30.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.59 €1.37
$1.10 ฿36.25
44.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 €0.65
$0.60 ฿19.76
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.47 €5.58
$4.31 ฿142
50.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 €4.98
$18.60 ฿615
-68.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 €1.23
$1.80 ฿59.5
-20.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 €1.91
$2.97 ฿98.0
-25.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Matosinhos
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.34 €2.02
$2.25 ฿74.2
4.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.06 €40.56
$23.49 ฿776
100.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 €3.44
$3.10 ฿102
28.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.91 €0.78
$1.08 ฿35.56
-15.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.75 €12.71
$3.87 ฿128
281.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 €1.94
$1.43 ฿47.16
57.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K €30.6K
$27.8K ฿918.0K
27.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.3K €33.0K
$27.0K ฿891.5K
42.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Matosinhos
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 €146
$105 ฿3,462
61.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.71 €19.58
$11.39 ฿376
99.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.93 €30.11
$17.54 ฿580
99.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Matosinhos
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.7 €46.31
$54.3 ฿1,795
-1.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.36 €14.97
$11.44 ฿378
51.75%
Cinema Ticket
$9.17 €7.90
$7.78 ฿257
17.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Matosinhos
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$593 €511
$576 ฿19.0K
2.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.1K €9,541
$11.6K ฿382.7K
-4.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Matosinhos
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.7 €85.9
$63.6 ฿2,103
56.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.06 €32.81
$29.10 ฿961
30.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.8 €85.1
$96.2 ฿3,179
2.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 €92.9
$90.0 ฿2,974
19.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Matosinhos
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,347 €1,161
$733 ฿24.2K
83.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$985 €849
$501 ฿16.5K
96.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,357 €2,031
$2,126 ฿70.2K
10.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,640 €1,414
$1,252 ฿41.4K
30.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,558 €3,929
$3,534 ฿116.8K
28.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,010 €3,457
$2,622 ฿86.6K
52.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Matosinhos
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,247 €1,075
$508 ฿16.8K
145.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.83
5.57
-31.24%

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

Last update for Matosinhos: September 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,347 in Matosinhos and $733 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Matosinhos pays 146% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $49.00 in Matosinhos vs $32.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $275, with Matosinhos cheaper for home cooking.

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
Matosinhos vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Matosinhos?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Matosinhos or Phuket?
Average pay runs 146% higher in Matosinhos, 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 Matosinhos and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,347 in Matosinhos versus $733 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Matosinhos and in Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,009 per month in Matosinhos versus $1,265 in Phuket – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 100% less than in Matosinhos. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Matosinhos or in Phuket?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,009 in Matosinhos, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Matosinhos. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Matosinhos or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Matosinhos, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Matosinhos or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Matosinhos 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Matosinhos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Matosinhos vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities