😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $794 in Catanduva.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $1,287 in Catanduva.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $1,781 in Catanduva.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 59% more expensive than in Catanduva, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket5% lower, Catanduva40% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48฿150
$7.38R$37.76
-39.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59฿1,525
$32.00R$164
42.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.76฿293
$6.95R$35.56
26.04%
Cappuccino
$2.97฿99.3
$1.75R$8.93
69.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.96
$1.22R$6.26
-43.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39฿13.07
$0.76R$3.90
-48.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿84.7
$1.78R$9.09
42.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75฿125
$2.74R$14.02
36.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15฿71.8
$0.97R$4.98
121.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿60.7
$1.76R$9.01
3.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.1
$1.18R$6.03
84.75%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.2
$1.84R$9.40
22.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.00฿669
$10.00R$51.2
100.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63฿121
$4.21R$21.56
-13.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿453
$8.53R$43.66
58.97%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24฿109
$2.07R$10.59
56.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.7
$1.29R$6.61
27.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.0
$1.44R$7.38
61.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.07฿69.3
$0.69R$3.55
200.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$0.92R$4.68
68.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46฿48.67
$0.94R$4.83
55.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.94
$0.92R$4.70
6.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.13
$0.63R$3.23
-23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35฿146
$1.75R$8.94
148.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.57฿621
$8.16R$41.74
127.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.1
$1.37R$7.01
35.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65฿88.8
$2.00R$10.24
32.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.40
$0.89R$4.54
59.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.57฿387
$38.09R$195
-69.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17฿106
$1.12R$5.73
183.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03฿34.51
$0.59R$3.00
74.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.89฿465
$7.66R$39.22
81.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.96
$1.06R$5.44
26.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿929.6K
$22.8KR$116.5K
22.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K฿1.1M
$28.0KR$143.1K
19.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,116
$51.1R$262
140.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77฿461
$6.38R$32.66
115.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33฿613
$16.35R$83.7
12.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7฿2,030
$22.89R$117
165.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16฿574
$21.91R$112
-21.68%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87฿297
$6.21R$31.78
42.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$688฿23.0K
$328R$1,681
109.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿527.8K
$8,721R$44.6K
80.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3฿1,984
$54.8R$280
8.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69฿1,160
$35.96R$184
-3.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,853
$75.3R$385
52.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8฿2,802
$54.1R$277
54.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621฿20.8K
$316R$1,615
96.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446฿14.9K
$219R$1,119
103.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,034฿68.0K
$583R$2,984
248.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,496฿50.0K
$434R$2,223
244.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,455฿115.6K
$1,551R$7,935
122.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,531฿84.7K
$1,167R$5,973
116.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11.17
-52.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026
Last update for Catanduva: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $316 in Catanduva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $32.00 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 in Catanduva?
Phuket and Catanduva differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($1,264 vs $794 including rent). Catanduva is meaningfully more affordable – 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 $1,896 in Phuket and $1,191 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 in Catanduva?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $316 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 – a meal for two runs $32.00 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 $794 in Catanduva versus $1,264 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 – 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 – expenses run 59% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.