😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $826 in Belo Horizonte.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,294 in Belo Horizonte.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,762 in Belo Horizonte.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 51% more expensive than in Belo Horizonte, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Belo Horizonte38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$6.13R$31.19
-25.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$31.91R$162
44.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$6.59R$33.57
34.14%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$1.54R$7.85
98.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$0.95R$4.83
-23.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$0.60R$3.07
-33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$1.84R$9.39
32.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$3.04R$15.49
24.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$0.89R$4.54
153.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.50R$7.64
20.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.54R$7.83
46.10%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$1.99R$10.11
13.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$8.22R$41.83
137.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$3.44R$17.50
6.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$7.41R$37.73
76.11%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.24R$11.41
44.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.29R$6.59
25.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$1.11R$5.65
114.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$1.36R$6.94
49.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.07R$5.44
42.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$0.84R$4.30
78.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$0.70R$3.57
40.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.68R$3.46
-23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$2.18R$11.10
103.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$7.56R$38.49
142.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.07R$5.45
73.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$2.15R$10.93
24.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Belo Horizonte
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$0.92R$4.67
53.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$41.65R$212
-71.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$0.92R$4.69
238.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$1.08R$5.50
-3.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$7.93R$40.37
77.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.08R$5.52
21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$25.2KR$128.2K
10.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$28.7KR$146.3K
15.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$64.8R$330
89.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$14.22R$72.4
-4.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$20.86R$106
-10.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$23.90R$122
153.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$39.74R$202
-57.27%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$7.39R$37.60
22.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$369R$1,877
91.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$6,843R$34.8K
130.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$52.5R$267
11.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$36.72R$187
-3.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$71.1R$362
62.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$65.8R$335
27.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Belo Horizonte
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$413R$2,102
51.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$260R$1,324
71.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$698R$3,555
192.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$453R$2,307
229.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$2,288R$11.6K
52.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$1,094R$5,570
135.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Belo Horizonte
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$618R$3,146
-19.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
10.83
-50.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Belo Horizonte: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $413 in Belo Horizonte. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Belo Horizonte pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $32.00 in Belo Horizonte for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $173 per month, with Belo Horizonte 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 Belo Horizonte: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Belo Horizonte?
Phuket and Belo Horizonte differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($1,250 vs $826 including rent). Belo Horizonte is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Belo Horizonte. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Belo Horizonte?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $413 in Belo Horizonte. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Belo Horizonte?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $369 in Belo Horizonte. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $826 in Belo Horizonte versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Belo Horizonte but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Belo Horizonte the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Belo Horizonte?
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 Belo Horizonte safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Belo Horizonte 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 Belo Horizonte?
Expats usually find Belo Horizonte gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.