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: $1,232 in Phuket versus $858 in Castanhal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,351 in Castanhal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,844 in Castanhal.

Living in Phuket is roughly 44% more expensive than in Castanhal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Castanhal 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$5.75 R$29.60
-23.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,077
$35.32 R$182
-8.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿298
$7.17 R$36.96
24.55%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.6
$1.90 R$9.77
52.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.38
$1.34 R$6.92
-34.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.06
$0.79 R$4.09
-39.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.5
$1.98 R$10.21
18.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$2.83 R$14.60
31.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.3
$1.06 R$5.48
76.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.94
$1.70 R$8.76
-13.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$1.27 R$6.54
22.05%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.1
$2.09 R$10.78
0.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿654
$8.57 R$44.17
128.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$4.27 R$21.97
-19.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿380
$8.12 R$41.85
40.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.6
$2.37 R$12.22
25.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$1.34 R$6.90
25.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$1.20 R$6.18
84.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.1
$1.74 R$8.95
24.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.9
$1.09 R$5.61
39.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.67
$1.22 R$6.29
9.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.67
$0.76 R$3.94
48.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.75 R$3.89
-26.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$2.32 R$11.96
83.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿637
$8.78 R$45.21
117.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.4
$1.15 R$5.94
54.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$1.87 R$9.64
48.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.4
$1.01 R$5.22
120.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿759
$47.51 R$245
-52.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$1.29 R$6.63
134.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.15
$0.81 R$4.16
25.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$7.61 R$39.20
-48.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.77
$1.30 R$6.69
14.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿887.3K
$20.4K R$105.0K
30.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿902.2K
$34.3K R$176.8K
-21.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,420
$66.7 R$344
53.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿378
$11.49 R$59.2
-1.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿581
$23.06 R$119
-24.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,738
$25.09 R$129
107.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿370
$29.80 R$154
-62.85%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿257
$6.94 R$35.76
10.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$318 R$1,637
76.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.1K
$8,060 R$41.5K
42.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,104
$52.8 R$272
19.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿986
$48.29 R$249
-38.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,272
$92.3 R$476
6.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,954
$71.5 R$368
23.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$332 R$1,709
122.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$211 R$1,089
128.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.3K
$716 R$3,690
194.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.9K
$400 R$2,060
206.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.7K
$1,553 R$8,000
132.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.9K
$1,116 R$5,752
133.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Castanhal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11.06
-49.64%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Castanhal: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $332 in Castanhal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $35.00 in Castanhal. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $191, with Castanhal cheaper for home cooking.

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 44% 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 $1,847 in Phuket and $1,286 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: $738 in Phuket versus $332 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 $35.00 versus $32.00 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 $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $858 in Castanhal – a 44% 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 $858 in Castanhal versus $1,232 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 $858 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 44% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities