😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $682 in Botucatu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,124 in Botucatu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,566 in Botucatu.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 85% more expensive than in Botucatu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Botucatu49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Botucatu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$5.24R$26.57
-14.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,520
$33.24R$169
37.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿292
$6.28R$31.85
39.49%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.0
$1.83R$9.28
62.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.89
$1.38R$6.99
-50.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.03
$0.91R$4.60
-57.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.4
$1.78R$9.02
42.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$3.39R$17.18
10.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Botucatu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.6
$0.73R$3.71
194.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.5
$1.04R$5.26
75.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿72.9
$0.87R$4.41
150.57%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.0
$1.16R$5.89
93.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿667
$7.04R$35.68
184.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$2.67R$13.55
35.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿452
$6.81R$34.51
99.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿108
$1.57R$7.98
106.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.6
$0.75R$3.78
118.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿77.8
$0.52R$2.65
348.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.1
$1.10R$5.60
88.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.6
$0.94R$4.79
64.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.53
$0.93R$4.71
56.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.85
$0.56R$2.86
75.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.65R$3.28
-26.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿145
$2.71R$13.74
60.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿619
$6.67R$33.82
178.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿61.9
$1.09R$5.54
70.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.5
$2.44R$12.37
8.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Botucatu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.26
$0.89R$4.51
59.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿386
$38.94R$197
-70.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$0.93R$4.70
240.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.40
$1.06R$5.35
-2.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿463
$8.52R$43.21
63.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.83
$0.96R$4.84
39.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿926.8K
$22.6KR$114.5K
23.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$29.0KR$147.0K
15.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Botucatu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,104
$23.89R$121
415.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿459
$8.79R$44.55
56.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿611
$14.64R$74.2
25.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Botucatu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,024
$22.15R$112
174.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿572
$21.52R$109
-20.26%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿296
$5.26R$26.70
68.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Botucatu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿22.9K
$246R$1,247
179.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿526.2K
$5,543R$28.1K
184.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Botucatu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,978
$40.17R$204
47.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,157
$38.72R$196
-10.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,841
$44.78R$227
157.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,793
$70.2R$356
19.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Botucatu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.7K
$320R$1,622
94.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$214R$1,085
108.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿67.8K
$588R$2,984
245.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿49.9K
$427R$2,167
250.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Botucatu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$413R$2,093
19.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
9.5
-43.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Botucatu: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $320 in Botucatu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $33.00 in Botucatu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $139 per month, with Botucatu 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 Botucatu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Botucatu?
Botucatu wins on cost – living expenses run 85% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Botucatu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or in Botucatu?
Average pay runs 20% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Botucatu?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $320 in Botucatu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Botucatu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 109% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Botucatu?
Dining out is cheaper in Botucatu – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Botucatu?
At $682 in Botucatu versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Botucatu but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Botucatu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Botucatu?
Both work as nomad bases, but Botucatu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $682 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Botucatu hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Botucatu?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Botucatu 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Botucatu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 85% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.