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: $1,223 in Phuket versus $781 in Barreiras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $1,233 in Barreiras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,685 in Barreiras.

Living in Phuket is roughly 57% more expensive than Barreiras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Barreiras 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51 ฿147
$5.42 R$27.56
-16.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62 ฿1,515
$26.81 R$136
73.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.49 ฿276
$6.41 R$32.60
32.45%
Cappuccino
$3.08 ฿100
$1.79 R$9.13
72.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.07
$1.08 R$5.50
-37.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.75
$0.62 R$3.16
-41.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿78.8
$1.81 R$9.23
34.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿118
$2.67 R$13.58
35.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ฿71.1
$1.01 R$5.13
116.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿59.0
$1.51 R$7.69
19.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ฿72.5
$1.18 R$6.00
88.98%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿72.7
$2.04 R$10.38
9.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.60 ฿637
$8.24 R$41.94
137.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 ฿121
$3.67 R$18.66
1.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.47 ฿438
$7.22 R$36.72
86.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 ฿109
$2.04 R$10.40
64.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿52.5
$1.26 R$6.43
28.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.3
$1.20 R$6.10
100.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿64.6
$1.52 R$7.71
30.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.76
$1.20 R$6.09
27.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ฿47.19
$1.10 R$5.58
31.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿32.96
$0.71 R$3.59
42.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.73
$0.65 R$3.31
-26.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿139
$2.17 R$11.04
96.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.12 ฿621
$6.77 R$34.42
182.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿59.7
$1.26 R$6.39
46.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ฿89.1
$2.08 R$10.60
31.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿46.06
$0.87 R$4.45
63.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.72 ฿381
$39.27 R$200
-70.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 ฿97.6
$1.07 R$5.43
180.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 ฿34.00
$0.71 R$3.61
47.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.90 ฿452
$6.32 R$32.15
119.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ฿41.94
$1.03 R$5.26
25.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ฿911.1K
$20.8K R$105.8K
34.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K ฿1.1M
$27.2K R$138.3K
23.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,964
$60.1 R$306
103.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿453
$13.58 R$69.1
2.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87 ฿613
$19.23 R$97.9
-1.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 ฿1,992
$22.47 R$114
172.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿547
$21.99 R$112
-23.42%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿289
$6.33 R$32.18
40.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$691 ฿22.5K
$276 R$1,402
150.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K ฿525.2K
$6,376 R$32.4K
153.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,878
$49.80 R$253
16.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39 ฿1,150
$42.59 R$217
-16.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,685
$76.8 R$391
47.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0 ฿2,698
$65.3 R$332
27.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 ฿19.7K
$313 R$1,590
94.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.6K
$217 R$1,102
106.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 ฿66.0K
$586 R$2,983
246.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 ฿48.5K
$435 R$2,215
243.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,585 ฿116.5K
$1,548 R$7,873
131.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,585 ฿84.0K
$1,281 R$6,519
101.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Barreiras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ฿16.4K
-
-
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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Barreiras: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $313 in Barreiras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Barreiras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $173 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 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,835 in Phuket and $1,172 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: $607 in Phuket versus $313 in Barreiras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $276 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 68% 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 $781 in Barreiras versus $1,223 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 57% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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