ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $640 in Guarapuava.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $1,071 in Guarapuava.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,501 in Guarapuava.
ðLiving in Phuket is roughly 92% more expensive than Guarapuava, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðBoth cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Guarapuava52% lower.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$3.61R$18.03
28.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$21.31R$106
119.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$5.62R$28.03
57.30%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$1.96R$9.79
53.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$1.09R$5.44
-32.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$0.67R$3.36
-44.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$1.96R$9.79
24.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$2.63R$13.10
37.26%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.92R$4.57
145.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$1.41R$7.06
30.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$1.20R$5.97
86.67%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$1.52R$7.58
52.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$8.48R$42.30
131.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$3.43R$17.10
6.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$7.33R$36.55
78.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$1.64R$8.18
106.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$0.47R$2.34
248.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$0.89R$4.45
170.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$1.20R$6.01
69.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$0.94R$4.70
65.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$0.93R$4.66
61.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$0.60R$3.01
70.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$0.67R$3.35
-26.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$1.94R$9.66
129.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$7.83R$39.09
141.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.17R$5.83
52.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$1.83R$9.14
50.27%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$0.86R$4.28
62.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
$38.73R$193
-70.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$1.06R$5.27
194.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$0.66R$3.31
51.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$6.49R$32.37
117.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$0.95R$4.72
42.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$18.7KR$93.1K
45.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$26.7KR$133.0K
23.48%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$72.1R$360
73.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$8.14R$40.61
66.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$18.34R$91.5
0.98%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$24.08R$120
155.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
$21.43R$107
-21.42%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$5.47R$27.31
68.01%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$213R$1,065
227.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$3,403R$17.0K
358.24%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$30.26R$151
90.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$29.14R$145
20.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$69.8R$348
62.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$34.37R$171
151.32%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$214R$1,068
187.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$146R$730
204.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$504R$2,514
306.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$384R$1,915
288.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$1,004R$5,012
276.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$601R$3,000
340.57%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$501R$2,502
4.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11
-51.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Guarapuava: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $214 in Guarapuava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Phuket pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $21.00 in Guarapuava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $160 per month, with Guarapuava 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 Guarapuava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Guarapuava?
Guarapuava wins on cost â living expenses run 92% lower than in Phuket. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Guarapuava the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Phuket or Guarapuava?
Phuket pays 4% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Guarapuava?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $214 in Guarapuava. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and Guarapuava?
Childcare runs $698 in Phuket versus $213 in Guarapuava. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Guarapuava?
Supermarket bills run roughly 83% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Guarapuava?
At $640 in Guarapuava versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Guarapuava but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Guarapuava the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Guarapuava?
Both work as nomad bases, but Guarapuava delivers better value â similar infrastructure at $640 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Guarapuava hard to pass up.
How safe is Phuket compared to Guarapuava?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Guarapuava 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 Guarapuava gentler on the wallet â expenses run 92% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.