Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Barreiras Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Barreiras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $776 in Barreiras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,231 in Barreiras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,685 in Barreiras.

Living in Phuket is roughly 59% more expensive than Barreiras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Barreiras 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 ฿151
$5.32 R$26.55
-12.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 ฿1,532
$26.48 R$132
76.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿289
$6.18 R$30.84
43.04%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.0
$1.80 R$8.98
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ฿24.25
$1.09 R$5.44
-32.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.95
$0.61 R$3.05
-39.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.8
$1.84 R$9.18
32.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 ฿118
$2.69 R$13.40
34.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿73.9
$0.98 R$4.90
130.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 ฿60.1
$1.45 R$7.23
26.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 ฿73.4
$1.17 R$5.85
91.45%
Eggs
$2.32 ฿75.7
$2.05 R$10.21
13.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 ฿643
$8.09 R$40.35
143.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿119
$3.56 R$17.75
2.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 ฿428
$7.15 R$35.66
83.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 ฿111
$2.15 R$10.71
57.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.7
$1.30 R$6.51
26.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿79.0
$1.15 R$5.73
109.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿66.4
$1.46 R$7.31
39.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿50.9
$1.14 R$5.70
36.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.94
$1.11 R$5.52
35.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 ฿33.50
$0.74 R$3.69
37.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.00
$0.62 R$3.08
-20.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿145
$2.08 R$10.37
113.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 ฿617
$8.69 R$43.34
117.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.21 R$6.06
47.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ฿90.1
$2.04 R$10.20
34.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 ฿45.81
$0.88 R$4.38
59.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 ฿376
$38.29 R$191
-70.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 ฿102
$1.10 R$5.48
183.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 ฿32.67
$0.76 R$3.80
31.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 ฿461
$6.44 R$32.14
118.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ฿44.19
$1.05 R$5.24
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K ฿888.9K
$20.9K R$104.1K
30.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$28.2K R$140.5K
16.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 ฿4,087
$61.6 R$307
103.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$13.29 R$66.3
2.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿606
$19.11 R$95.3
-3.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 ฿2,010
$22.77 R$114
170.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿551
$21.69 R$108
-22.36%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 ฿300
$6.27 R$31.29
46.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 ฿22.8K
$275 R$1,370
154.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿509.9K
$6,577 R$32.8K
137.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,889
$48.73 R$243
18.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 ฿1,152
$42.74 R$213
-17.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,699
$77.2 R$385
46.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 ฿2,825
$63.2 R$315
36.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ฿20.1K
$316 R$1,578
94.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.6K
$215 R$1,071
107.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 ฿67.0K
$584 R$2,915
250.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿48.8K
$425 R$2,122
250.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 ฿123.6K
$1,690 R$8,432
123.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 ฿86.6K
$1,315 R$6,560
101.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 ฿17.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
10.92
-51.19%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Barreiras: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $316 in Barreiras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $26.00 in Barreiras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $175 per month, with Barreiras 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 Barreiras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barreiras cheaper than Phuket?
Barreiras is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 59% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $1,165 in Barreiras 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Barreiras?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $316 in Barreiras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $275 in Barreiras. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Barreiras?
Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Barreiras?
At $776 in Barreiras versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Barreiras but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Barreiras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Barreiras more family-friendly?
For families, Barreiras is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Barreiras?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Barreiras 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 Barreiras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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