Cost of Living Comparison Between Mindelo and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Mindelo and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $423 per month in Mindelo vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $954 per month in Mindelo vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,486 per month in Mindelo vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Mindelo is about 66% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Mindelo and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Mindelo 68% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mindelo
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.32 CVE 1,093
$4.55 ฿153
148.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.3 CVE 5,534
$46.18 ฿1,553
24.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$8.84 ฿297
-
Cappuccino
$1.13 CVE 109
$3.06 ฿103
-63.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 CVE 98.9
$0.73 ฿24.40
39.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 CVE 99.5
$0.40 ฿13.39
157.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.36 CVE 324
$2.43 ฿81.8
38.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 CVE 175
$3.78 ฿127
-52.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mindelo
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 CVE 150
$2.26 ฿76.0
-31.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 CVE 112
$1.81 ฿60.9
-35.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 CVE 77.8
$2.25 ฿75.8
-64.00%
Eggs
$2.72 CVE 263
$2.25 ฿75.5
20.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.92 CVE 1,537
$19.51 ฿656
-18.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$3.65 ฿123
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.09 CVE 1,746
$13.05 ฿439
38.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 CVE 211
$3.23 ฿109
-32.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 CVE 188
$1.62 ฿54.4
19.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.00 CVE 290
$2.38 ฿80.1
26.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.17 CVE 306
$2.03 ฿68.1
56.16%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 CVE 82.5
$1.53 ฿51.6
-44.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.68 CVE 162
$1.50 ฿50.5
12.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 CVE 104
$0.98 ฿32.91
10.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 CVE 71.5
$0.52 ฿17.39
42.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.32 CVE 513
$4.44 ฿149
19.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.33 CVE 804
$18.32 ฿616
-54.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 CVE 186
$1.86 ฿62.7
3.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 CVE 196
$2.68 ฿90.1
-24.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Mindelo
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 CVE 44.53
$1.41 ฿47.46
-67.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.02 CVE 2,995
$11.70 ฿393
165.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.55 CVE 150
$3.11 ฿105
-50.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 CVE 141
$1.04 ฿35.06
40.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.52 CVE 1,016
$14.11 ฿474
-25.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.78 CVE 172
$1.31 ฿44.10
35.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.8K ฿935.4K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$33.2K ฿1.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mindelo
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$122 ฿4,118
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.59 ฿457
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$18.70 ฿629
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mindelo
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$60.5 ฿2,034
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.15 CVE 305
$16.98 ฿571
-81.45%
Cinema Ticket
-
$9.07 ฿305
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mindelo
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$706 ฿23.8K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$15.8K ฿531.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mindelo
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$58.6 ฿1,969
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$35.36 ฿1,189
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$115 ฿3,883
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$83.7 ฿2,816
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mindelo
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$626 ฿21.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$445 ฿15.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$365 CVE 35.2K
$2,040 ฿68.6K
-82.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 CVE 25.0K
$1,492 ฿50.2K
-82.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,483 ฿117.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,577 ฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mindelo
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$500 ฿16.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.33
-

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

Last update for Mindelo: July 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $57.0 in Mindelo versus $46.00 in Phuket. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Mindelo vs $289 in Phuket – so Mindelo 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
Mindelo vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Mindelo?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 196%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $634 per month in Mindelo and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 165% less in Mindelo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do food prices compare in Mindelo and in Phuket?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mindelo or in Phuket?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mindelo, where all-in costs run around $423, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Mindelo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mindelo or Phuket more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mindelo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mindelo 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 Mindelo. 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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