Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Atibaia Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Atibaia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $743 in Atibaia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $1,330 in Atibaia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $1,916 in Atibaia.

Living in Phuket is roughly 70% more expensive than Atibaia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Atibaia 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Atibaia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$5.47 R$27.37
-14.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$27.39 R$137
65.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$5.69 R$28.48
48.15%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$2.00 R$10.01
46.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$1.24 R$6.20
-44.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$0.81 R$4.06
-54.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.85 R$9.24
30.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$2.67 R$13.38
39.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Atibaia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.05 R$5.24
112.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$1.54 R$7.72
18.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$1.38 R$6.89
57.25%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$2.86 R$14.29
-22.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$10.03 R$50.2
96.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$4.20 R$21.04
-13.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$8.83 R$44.17
53.23%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.68 R$8.42
95.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$1.20 R$5.99
34.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$1.10 R$5.51
119.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$1.47 R$7.38
41.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$1.06 R$5.32
44.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$1.14 R$5.71
29.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$0.94 R$4.72
5.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$0.69 R$3.47
-26.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$2.17 R$10.87
103.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$7.94 R$39.71
144.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.37 R$6.88
29.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$2.13 R$10.67
27.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Atibaia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$0.86 R$4.30
59.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$39.21 R$196
-70.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$1.23 R$6.14
145.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$1.02 R$5.12
-2.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$6.31 R$31.57
123.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.07 R$5.36
27.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$16.2K R$81.3K
73.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$26.9K R$134.7K
22.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Atibaia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$73.1 R$366
66.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$11.74 R$58.7
15.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$20.82 R$104
-12.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Atibaia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$21.51 R$108
179.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$17.76 R$88.9
-3.49%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$7.56 R$37.82
14.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Atibaia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$288 R$1,439
141.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$7,891 R$39.5K
98.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Atibaia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$45.56 R$228
30.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$33.80 R$169
2.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$68.2 R$341
68.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$41.84 R$209
99.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Atibaia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$275 R$1,374
123.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$180 R$899
143.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$901 R$4,510
132.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$624 R$3,123
141.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$1,992 R$9,970
88.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$1,656 R$8,286
57.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Atibaia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
9.8
-45.61%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Atibaia: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $275 in Atibaia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Atibaia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $192 per month, with Atibaia 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
Phuket vs Atibaia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Atibaia?
Phuket and Atibaia differ by about 70% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $743 including rent). Atibaia is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Atibaia?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $1,115 in Atibaia to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Atibaia?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $275 in Atibaia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Atibaia – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $45.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $743 in Atibaia versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Atibaia but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Atibaia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Atibaia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Atibaia safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Atibaia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Atibaia?
Expats usually find Atibaia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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