😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,243 in Phuket versus $873 in Catanduva.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,023 in Phuket versus $1,420 in Catanduva.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,803 in Phuket versus $1,966 in Catanduva.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 42% more expensive than in Catanduva, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Catanduva35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37฿147
$9.55R$49.85
-54.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.87฿1,103
$33.15R$173
-0.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.39฿282
$8.36R$43.66
0.36%
Cappuccino
$2.73฿91.8
$2.22R$11.57
22.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.59
$1.29R$6.75
-31.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47฿15.92
$0.85R$4.46
-44.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.36฿79.1
$2.31R$12.07
2.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿124
$3.68R$19.19
0.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83฿61.5
$1.02R$5.33
79.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45฿48.58
$2.04R$10.66
-28.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.9
$1.32R$6.91
19.70%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.4
$1.86R$9.69
12.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.37฿650
$11.10R$58.0
74.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿115
$4.68R$24.44
-26.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.96฿368
$10.16R$53.1
7.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00฿101
$2.28R$11.89
31.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.9
$1.32R$6.92
24.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿74.1
$1.51R$7.88
46.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.12฿71.2
$0.75R$3.94
182.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿49.34
$0.94R$4.92
56.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32฿44.37
$0.93R$4.86
41.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07฿35.93
$0.94R$4.92
13.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.61
$0.79R$4.11
-34.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38฿147
$2.33R$12.16
87.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.59฿624
$7.84R$40.93
137.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75฿58.6
$1.43R$7.48
22.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86฿95.8
$2.42R$12.66
18.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26฿76.0
$0.93R$4.87
143.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.98฿771
$42.04R$220
-45.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.94฿98.7
$1.12R$5.83
162.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.84
$0.74R$3.89
44.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.84฿129
$8.32R$43.44
-53.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46฿48.96
$1.14R$5.96
28.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K฿912.2K
$22.6KR$117.9K
20.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K฿893.5K
$30.6KR$159.7K
-12.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$62.7R$328
62.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.96฿368
$6.74R$35.19
62.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.89฿567
$16.99R$88.7
-0.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.4฿1,758
$25.22R$132
107.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.93฿367
$28.07R$147
-61.06%
Cinema Ticket
$7.52฿252
$6.74R$35.20
11.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$547฿18.3K
$423R$2,209
29.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K฿379.5K
$9,535R$49.8K
18.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2฿2,122
$57.8R$302
9.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.23฿981
$37.88R$198
-22.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.8฿3,282
$90.3R$471
8.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.7฿2,909
$57.6R$301
50.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$721฿24.2K
$290R$1,516
148.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$476฿16.0K
$229R$1,193
108.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,081฿69.8K
$727R$3,798
186.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,194฿40.1K
$431R$2,248
177.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,577฿120.0K
$1,485R$7,754
140.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,541฿85.3K
$1,227R$6,406
107.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Catanduva
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$489฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
10.81
-48.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 28, 2026
Last update for Catanduva: September 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Phuket and $290 in Catanduva. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $33.00 in Catanduva. Groceries flip the comparison at $269 vs $205, with Catanduva 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 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 42% in total monthly costs ($1,243 vs $873 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 $1,865 in Phuket and $1,310 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: $721 in Phuket versus $290 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 31% 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 $33.00 versus $33.00 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 $873 in Catanduva versus $1,243 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 42% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.