Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Alfenas Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Alfenas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,261 per month in Phuket vs $667 in Alfenas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,286 per month in Phuket vs $1,199 in Alfenas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,310 per month in Phuket vs $1,732 in Alfenas, rent included.

Phuket costs about 89% more than Alfenas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Alfenas are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Alfenas 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$3.55 R$17.98
28.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$27.03 R$137
72.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$5.49 R$27.77
54.28%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$0.92 R$4.68
229.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$0.52 R$2.62
32.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$0.56 R$2.82
-33.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$2.12 R$10.74
17.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.76 R$13.98
32.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.05 R$5.33
107.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$1.77 R$8.97
7.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.35 R$6.83
62.96%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$2.40 R$12.13
-7.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$11.16 R$56.5
79.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$4.37 R$22.12
-16.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$9.18 R$46.47
44.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$2.86 R$14.46
12.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$1.86 R$9.42
-8.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$1.65 R$8.33
44.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$1.85 R$9.36
12.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$1.42 R$7.20
11.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$1.24 R$6.30
19.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$1.01 R$5.10
1.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.73 R$3.69
-28.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$1.79 R$9.06
137.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$9.67 R$48.96
94.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$1.31 R$6.62
34.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$2.41 R$12.18
14.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$0.87 R$4.40
56.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$38.70 R$196
-70.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$1.07 R$5.41
193.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$0.71 R$3.58
46.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$9.27 R$46.96
48.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$1.05 R$5.31
27.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$22.0K R$111.6K
25.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$27.3K R$138.3K
23.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$54.5 R$276
126.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$13.25 R$67.1
2.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$18.33 R$92.8
1.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$22.79 R$115
171.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$21.57 R$109
-20.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$6.37 R$32.27
43.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$502 R$2,543
39.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$15.5K R$78.2K
2.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$50.8 R$257
16.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$41.77 R$211
-16.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$77.7 R$393
48.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$72.2 R$365
16.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$321 R$1,627
92.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$91.4 R$463
373.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$592 R$2,998
248.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$431 R$2,180
250.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$1,603 R$8,114
127.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$1,025 R$5,188
156.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
$480 R$2,431
5.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
11.56
-53.89%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Alfenas: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $321 in Alfenas. 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 6% 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $27.00 in Alfenas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $218 – making Alfenas 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
Phuket vs Alfenas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and Alfenas compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,261 in Phuket, $667 in Alfenas – roughly 89% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Alfenas?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,892 per month in Phuket and $1,000 in Alfenas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket and Alfenas?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Alfenas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 35% 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 has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Phuket and $27.00 in Alfenas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Alfenas, where all-in costs run around $667, than in Phuket at $1,261. In Alfenas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Alfenas?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $667 in Alfenas to $1,261 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket or Alfenas 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 Phuket and Alfenas?
If budget matters most, go with Alfenas. 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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