Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Castanhal Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Castanhal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $778 in Castanhal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,240 in Castanhal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,701 in Castanhal.

Living in Phuket is roughly 62% more expensive than in Castanhal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Castanhal 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48 ฿150
$5.34 R$27.12
-16.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59 ฿1,521
$26.67 R$135
70.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿292
$6.12 R$31.08
43.14%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ฿99.0
$1.81 R$9.17
64.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.90
$1.12 R$5.67
-38.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿13.04
$0.67 R$3.38
-41.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.4
$1.83 R$9.29
38.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿125
$2.71 R$13.76
38.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ฿71.6
$0.93 R$4.73
131.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿60.6
$1.51 R$7.64
20.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿72.9
$1.13 R$5.72
92.92%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.0
$1.96 R$9.95
14.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 ฿667
$8.09 R$41.08
147.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿121
$3.72 R$18.87
-2.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿452
$7.37 R$37.38
83.99%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ฿108
$2.09 R$10.59
55.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.6
$1.26 R$6.39
30.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿77.8
$1.16 R$5.86
100.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ฿69.1
$1.51 R$7.67
37.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$1.16 R$5.88
33.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.54
$1.10 R$5.59
32.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.86
$0.69 R$3.51
42.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.09
$0.66 R$3.36
-27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 ฿145
$2.07 R$10.50
110.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 ฿620
$8.83 R$44.80
110.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿61.9
$1.27 R$6.43
46.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ฿88.6
$2.02 R$10.23
31.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.28
$0.92 R$4.66
54.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 ฿386
$38.12 R$193
-69.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ฿106
$1.06 R$5.40
199.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ฿34.41
$0.72 R$3.63
43.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 ฿463
$6.23 R$31.60
122.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.84
$1.04 R$5.29
28.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿927.1K
$20.9K R$106.1K
32.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ฿1.1M
$27.9K R$141.8K
19.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,105
$60.2 R$306
104.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿459
$13.39 R$67.9
2.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 ฿611
$19.03 R$96.6
-3.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 ฿2,025
$22.86 R$116
165.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16 ฿573
$21.61 R$110
-20.59%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿296
$6.22 R$31.55
42.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 ฿22.9K
$275 R$1,394
150.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿526.4K
$6,563 R$33.3K
140.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,978
$49.37 R$251
20.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69 ฿1,157
$41.54 R$211
-16.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,843
$76.7 R$389
50.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8 ฿2,794
$63.5 R$322
31.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 ฿20.7K
$310 R$1,572
100.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.9K
$219 R$1,110
103.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,034 ฿67.8K
$590 R$2,994
244.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿49.9K
$425 R$2,155
252.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,455 ฿115.3K
$1,525 R$7,737
126.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,531 ฿84.4K
$1,002 R$5,086
152.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
-
-
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Castanhal: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $310 in Castanhal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Castanhal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $176 per month, with Castanhal 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 Castanhal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Castanhal?
Castanhal wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Castanhal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Castanhal?
You'd need roughly $1,896 in Phuket and $1,167 in Castanhal 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket compared to Castanhal?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $310 in Castanhal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Castanhal?
Dining out is cheaper in Castanhal – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $46.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Castanhal?
All in, you'll spend $1,264 per month in Phuket versus $778 in Castanhal – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Castanhal?
At $778 in Castanhal versus $1,264 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Castanhal but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Castanhal the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Castanhal?
Both work as nomad bases, but Castanhal delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $778 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Castanhal hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Castanhal?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Castanhal 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 Castanhal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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