ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,043 in Braganca.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,575 in Braganca.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $2,106 in Braganca.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 18% more expensive than Braganca, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Braganca22% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Braganca
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$9.24âŽ7.91
-49.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$34.57âŽ29.59
35.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$9.06âŽ7.75
-2.43%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.50âŽ1.28
100.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$1.57âŽ1.35
-52.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.91âŽ0.78
-59.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.75âŽ1.50
39.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.92âŽ2.50
23.63%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Braganca
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.10âŽ0.94
105.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.40âŽ1.20
31.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.38âŽ1.18
62.32%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$3.11âŽ2.66
-25.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$7.87âŽ6.74
149.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$5.94âŽ5.09
-38.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$10.59âŽ9.06
23.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$2.36âŽ2.02
43.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.53âŽ1.31
7.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$2.01âŽ1.72
19.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$2.56âŽ2.20
-20.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$1.37âŽ1.17
13.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$1.82âŽ1.56
-17.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$1.72âŽ1.47
-40.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.87âŽ0.75
-43.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$6.10âŽ5.22
-27.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$4.71âŽ4.03
300.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.09âŽ0.93
63.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$2.35âŽ2.02
17.02%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Braganca
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$2.37âŽ2.03
-40.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$11.38âŽ9.74
0.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$4.61âŽ3.94
-32.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.03âŽ0.88
-2.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$14.72âŽ12.60
-4.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$1.91âŽ1.64
-29.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$38.5KâŽ32.9K
-29.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$39.5KâŽ33.8K
-16.60%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Braganca
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$134âŽ115
-6.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$19.74âŽ16.90
-31.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$29.34âŽ25.11
-36.88%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Braganca
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$35.37âŽ30.27
73.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$5.91âŽ5.06
184.94%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$5.95âŽ5.09
54.45%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Braganca
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$459âŽ393
52.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$8,453âŽ7,236
84.46%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Braganca
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$22.74âŽ19.47
154.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$23.56âŽ20.16
49.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$93.9âŽ80.4
20.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$154âŽ132
-43.84%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Braganca
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$435âŽ373
41.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$314âŽ269
42.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$756âŽ647
170.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$466âŽ399
219.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,132âŽ969
233.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$873âŽ747
203.56%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Braganca
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$1,202âŽ1,029
-56.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5
6.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Braganca: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $435 in Braganca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Braganca pays 130% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Braganca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $215 per month, with Braganca 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 Braganca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Braganca?
Phuket and Braganca differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $1,043 including rent). Braganca is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Braganca earns 130% less. 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 Braganca?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $435 in Braganca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Phuket and Braganca?
A monthly transit pass in Braganca runs roughly 1% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Braganca?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $459 in Braganca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,043 in Braganca versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Braganca but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Braganca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Braganca?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Braganca safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Braganca 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 Braganca?
Expats usually find Braganca gentler on the wallet â expenses run 18% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.