Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dourados Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Dourados

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $783 in Dourados.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $1,235 in Dourados.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,291 in Phuket versus $1,687 in Dourados.

Living in Phuket is roughly 61% more expensive than in Dourados, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Dourados 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Dourados
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53 ฿152
$5.55 R$28.16
-18.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36 ฿1,558
$27.36 R$139
69.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.65 ฿291
$6.13 R$31.13
41.11%
Cappuccino
$3.09 ฿104
$1.74 R$8.86
77.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.79
$1.08 R$5.49
-37.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.38
$0.66 R$3.33
-43.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.2
$1.85 R$9.41
30.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 ฿128
$2.66 R$13.51
43.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Dourados
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿73.2
$1.00 R$5.08
118.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿61.1
$1.49 R$7.57
22.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿73.2
$1.18 R$6.01
84.75%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿75.1
$1.96 R$9.96
14.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.93 ฿670
$8.19 R$41.55
143.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.64 ฿122
$3.63 R$18.42
0.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿456
$7.09 R$35.98
91.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 ฿111
$2.07 R$10.49
58.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.6
$1.26 R$6.41
34.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿78.4
$1.20 R$6.11
94.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.1
$1.47 R$7.44
38.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.8
$1.14 R$5.79
40.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.49 ฿50.2
$1.10 R$5.59
35.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿34.02
$0.69 R$3.51
46.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.02
$0.65 R$3.32
-26.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 ฿150
$2.16 R$10.98
106.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.63 ฿626
$7.35 R$37.31
153.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿60.0
$1.22 R$6.19
46.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 ฿94.0
$2.07 R$10.51
35.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Dourados
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.69
$0.87 R$4.41
63.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.33 ฿381
$37.78 R$192
-70.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 ฿104
$1.11 R$5.62
178.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.03
$0.71 R$3.60
46.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.63 ฿458
$6.54 R$33.19
108.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.03
$1.08 R$5.47
21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K ฿916.6K
$21.0K R$106.5K
29.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$27.7K R$140.5K
20.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Dourados
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,138
$59.9 R$304
105.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81 ฿464
$13.75 R$69.8
0.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 ฿622
$18.68 R$94.8
-0.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Dourados
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.4 ฿2,028
$22.32 R$113
170.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 ฿564
$21.83 R$111
-23.04%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿299
$6.18 R$31.36
43.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Dourados
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$687 ฿23.1K
$271 R$1,374
153.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K ฿522.5K
$6,463 R$32.8K
140.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Dourados
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 ฿1,936
$49.24 R$250
17.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66 ฿1,165
$41.89 R$213
-17.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,861
$75.2 R$382
52.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.9 ฿2,853
$64.9 R$330
30.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Dourados
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$618 ฿20.7K
$315 R$1,598
96.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$443 ฿14.9K
$219 R$1,114
101.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,047 ฿68.8K
$573 R$2,909
257.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,506 ฿50.6K
$433 R$2,196
248.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,568 ฿119.9K
$1,686 R$8,559
111.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,511 ฿84.4K
$1,074 R$5,449
133.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Dourados
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$503 ฿16.9K
-
-
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 20, 2026

Last update for Dourados: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $618 in Phuket and $315 in Dourados. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Dourados for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $173 per month, with Dourados 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 Dourados: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Dourados?
Dourados wins on cost – living expenses run 61% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dourados the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Dourados?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Phuket and $1,175 in Dourados 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 Dourados?
Rent for a central apartment: $618 in Phuket versus $315 in Dourados. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Dourados?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Phuket and in Dourados?
Dining out is cheaper in Dourados – 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or in Dourados?
At $783 in Dourados versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Dourados but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Dourados the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Dourados?
Both work as nomad bases, but Dourados delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $783 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dourados hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Dourados?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Dourados 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 Dourados gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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