😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $663 in Guarapuava.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,062 in Guarapuava.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,461 in Guarapuava.
😐Living in Phuket is roughly 90% more expensive than Guarapuava, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Guarapuava51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿149
$3.52R$17.81
29.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,519
$21.52R$109
116.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿276
$5.64R$28.54
50.18%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.6
$1.96R$9.94
54.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.45
$1.07R$5.43
-35.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.92
$0.68R$3.43
-45.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿81.0
$2.03R$10.27
22.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$2.76R$13.98
32.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿71.0
$0.95R$4.81
129.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿62.0
$1.47R$7.42
29.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.6
$1.17R$5.90
88.03%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.4
$1.52R$7.71
46.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿651
$8.35R$42.26
139.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$3.42R$17.33
7.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿432
$7.36R$37.28
80.03%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$1.65R$8.34
95.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.3
$0.50R$2.55
240.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿78.0
$0.95R$4.82
151.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.7
$1.22R$6.16
70.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$0.97R$4.92
63.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.31
$0.94R$4.77
57.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.54
$0.56R$2.84
83.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.83
$0.66R$3.33
-21.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$1.94R$9.85
119.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿612
$7.87R$39.84
138.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$1.23R$6.24
43.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.8
$1.76R$8.91
56.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.32
$0.87R$4.39
56.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
$38.55R$195
-70.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$1.01R$5.13
210.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.74
$0.66R$3.35
57.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$6.25R$31.62
120.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.79
$1.02R$5.18
31.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿901.4K
$18.5KR$93.7K
49.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$26.4KR$133.7K
28.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,025
$72.7R$368
70.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$7.93R$40.14
70.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿609
$18.36R$92.9
1.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,013
$23.91R$121
158.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿562
$21.80R$110
-20.87%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿298
$5.46R$27.64
67.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$218R$1,103
222.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿517.0K
$3,289R$16.7K
382.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,937
$30.23R$153
96.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,142
$28.76R$146
21.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,754
$71.7R$363
60.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,737
$34.40R$174
144.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$215R$1,087
188.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$147R$744
194.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.2K
$517R$2,618
298.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$386R$1,953
291.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.7K
$945R$4,782
285.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.5K
$580R$2,935
352.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Guarapuava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
$470R$2,382
7.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11
-51.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Guarapuava: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $215 in Guarapuava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 8% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $22.00 in Guarapuava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $161 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 – living expenses run 90% 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 8% 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: $619 in Phuket versus $215 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 $703 in Phuket versus $218 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 82% 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 $663 in Guarapuava versus $1,261 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 – similar infrastructure at $663 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 – expenses run 90% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.