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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $663 in Alfenas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,186 in Alfenas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,708 in Alfenas, rent included.

Phuket costs about 91% more than Alfenas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Alfenas are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Alfenas 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48 ฿150
$3.55 R$18.16
26.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59 ฿1,525
$26.51 R$136
71.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$5.33 R$27.25
64.35%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ฿99.3
$0.92 R$4.72
222.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.96
$0.52 R$2.64
32.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿13.07
$0.56 R$2.84
-30.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.7
$2.14 R$10.93
18.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿125
$2.76 R$14.13
35.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ฿71.8
$1.07 R$5.46
100.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿60.7
$1.85 R$9.44
-1.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿73.1
$1.29 R$6.61
68.99%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.2
$2.47 R$12.66
-8.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 ฿669
$11.24 R$57.5
77.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿121
$4.19 R$21.42
-13.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿453
$8.98 R$45.97
51.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ฿109
$2.76 R$14.13
17.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.7
$1.83 R$9.37
-10.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿78.0
$1.62 R$8.30
43.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ฿69.3
$1.83 R$9.35
13.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$1.40 R$7.16
10.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.67
$1.29 R$6.60
13.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.94
$0.99 R$5.06
-1.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.13
$0.73 R$3.72
-34.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 ฿146
$1.77 R$9.05
145.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 ฿621
$9.73 R$49.78
90.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.1
$1.36 R$6.97
36.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ฿88.8
$2.29 R$11.74
15.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.40
$0.91 R$4.68
56.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 ฿387
$39.26 R$201
-70.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ฿106
$1.07 R$5.47
196.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ฿34.51
$0.75 R$3.86
37.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 ฿465
$8.95 R$45.81
55.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.96
$1.10 R$5.65
21.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿929.6K
$21.9K R$111.9K
27.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ฿1.1M
$26.9K R$137.9K
23.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,116
$54.9 R$281
124.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿461
$13.02 R$66.6
5.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 ฿613
$18.32 R$93.8
0.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 ฿2,030
$22.87 R$117
165.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16 ฿574
$21.51 R$110
-20.22%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿297
$6.27 R$32.06
41.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 ฿23.0K
$487 R$2,494
41.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿527.8K
$15.3K R$78.3K
3.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,984
$51.7 R$264
14.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69 ฿1,160
$42.13 R$216
-17.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,853
$79.4 R$406
45.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8 ฿2,802
$74.5 R$381
12.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 ฿20.8K
$313 R$1,601
98.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.9K
$91.0 R$466
390.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,034 ฿68.0K
$580 R$2,967
250.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿50.0K
$423 R$2,162
254.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,455 ฿115.6K
$1,743 R$8,918
98.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,531 ฿84.7K
$1,181 R$6,045
114.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Alfenas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$484 R$2,475
2.06%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Alfenas: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $313 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 2% 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 $46.00 in Phuket versus $27.00 in Alfenas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $217 – 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 in Alfenas compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,264 in Phuket, $663 in Alfenas – roughly 91% 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 $1,896 per month in Phuket and $995 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 34% 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 $46.00 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 $663, than in Phuket at $1,264. 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 $663 in Alfenas to $1,264 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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