๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $768 in Catanduva.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $1,256 in Catanduva.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $1,744 in Catanduva.
๐Living in Phuket is roughly 65% more expensive than Catanduva, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Catanduva43% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66เธฟ150
$7.03R$34.96
-33.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44เธฟ1,496
$32.94R$164
40.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68เธฟ280
$6.71R$33.36
29.36%
Cappuccino
$2.95เธฟ95.0
$1.79R$8.88
64.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70เธฟ22.52
$1.22R$6.09
-42.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39เธฟ12.70
$0.77R$3.81
-49.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53เธฟ81.6
$1.83R$9.12
38.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78เธฟ122
$2.76R$13.71
36.96%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22เธฟ71.5
$1.03R$5.12
115.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80เธฟ57.8
$1.75R$8.69
2.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19เธฟ70.4
$1.14R$5.67
92.11%
Eggs
$2.31เธฟ74.5
$1.84R$9.14
25.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.34เธฟ623
$10.06R$50.0
92.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.77เธฟ121
$4.04R$20.06
-6.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.22เธฟ426
$8.23R$40.90
60.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.33เธฟ107
$2.18R$10.82
52.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65เธฟ53.1
$1.29R$6.42
27.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29เธฟ73.7
$1.43R$7.11
60.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99เธฟ64.1
$0.74R$3.68
168.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53เธฟ49.24
$0.92R$4.55
66.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51เธฟ48.77
$0.88R$4.36
71.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03เธฟ33.12
$0.93R$4.62
10.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51เธฟ16.57
$0.67R$3.35
-23.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41เธฟ142
$1.85R$9.18
138.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41เธฟ625
$8.21R$40.78
136.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80เธฟ58.0
$1.31R$6.52
37.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68เธฟ86.4
$2.05R$10.17
30.73%
๐ Getting Around
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.43เธฟ46.11
$0.93R$4.63
53.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70เธฟ377
$38.50R$191
-69.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.04เธฟ97.9
$1.16R$5.75
162.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04เธฟ33.37
$0.63R$3.12
65.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.68เธฟ441
$7.53R$37.44
81.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30เธฟ41.85
$1.07R$5.33
21.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9Kเธฟ898.9K
$22.8KR$113.5K
22.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kเธฟ1.1M
$28.8KR$143.4K
14.52%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123เธฟ3,962
$52.0R$259
136.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82เธฟ445
$6.12R$30.42
125.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86เธฟ608
$16.33R$81.2
15.49%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.2เธฟ1,970
$22.10R$110
176.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81เธฟ541
$21.82R$108
-22.96%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87เธฟ286
$6.39R$31.74
38.81%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696เธฟ22.4K
$331R$1,646
110.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kเธฟ517.4K
$8,762R$43.5K
83.27%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3เธฟ1,910
$54.3R$270
9.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85เธฟ1,123
$36.28R$180
-3.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113เธฟ3,646
$75.8R$377
49.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1เธฟ2,740
$53.2R$264
59.99%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615เธฟ19.8K
$311R$1,545
98.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448เธฟ14.4K
$216R$1,074
107.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,085เธฟ67.2K
$579R$2,879
259.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496เธฟ48.2K
$429R$2,131
248.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,734เธฟ120.3K
$1,640R$8,152
127.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,662เธฟ85.8K
$1,247R$6,195
113.54%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$534เธฟ17.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11.17
-52.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Last update for Catanduva: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $311 in Catanduva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $46 in Phuket vs $33 in Catanduva for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $186 per month, with Catanduva 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 Catanduva: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and Catanduva?
Phuket and Catanduva differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($1,270 vs $768 including rent). Catanduva is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Catanduva?
You'd need roughly $1,904 in Phuket and $1,152 in Catanduva 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 do apartment prices compare in Phuket and Catanduva?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $311 in Catanduva. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Catanduva โ 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.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $768 in Catanduva versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Catanduva but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Catanduva the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Catanduva?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Catanduva safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Catanduva 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 Catanduva?
Expats usually find Catanduva gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 65% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.