Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Guararema Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Guararema

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,270 in Phuket versus $713 in Guararema.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $1,161 in Guararema.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $1,609 in Guararema.

Living in Phuket is roughly 78% more expensive than Guararema, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 5% lower, Guararema 47% lower.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 เธฟ150
$4.60 R$22.85
1.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44 เธฟ1,496
$32.72 R$163
41.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 เธฟ280
$5.38 R$26.75
61.34%
Cappuccino
$2.95 เธฟ95.0
$0.94 R$4.67
213.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 เธฟ22.52
$0.93 R$4.61
-24.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 เธฟ12.70
$0.75 R$3.72
-48.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 เธฟ81.6
$1.83 R$9.11
38.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 เธฟ122
$2.75 R$13.69
37.45%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 เธฟ71.5
$0.95 R$4.74
133.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 เธฟ57.8
$1.28 R$6.37
40.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 เธฟ70.4
$1.11 R$5.50
97.30%
Eggs
$2.31 เธฟ74.5
$2.29 R$11.40
0.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.34 เธฟ623
$9.19 R$45.70
110.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.77 เธฟ121
$4.21 R$20.90
-10.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.22 เธฟ426
$8.27 R$41.08
59.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 เธฟ107
$1.93 R$9.62
72.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 เธฟ53.1
$1.60 R$7.94
3.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 เธฟ73.7
$1.45 R$7.21
57.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 เธฟ64.1
$1.48 R$7.33
34.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 เธฟ49.24
$1.46 R$7.27
4.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 เธฟ48.77
$1.39 R$6.93
8.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 เธฟ33.12
$0.38 R$1.87
171.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 เธฟ16.57
$0.67 R$3.34
-23.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 เธฟ142
$1.82 R$9.03
142.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.41 เธฟ625
$6.08 R$30.21
219.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 เธฟ58.0
$1.30 R$6.47
38.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 เธฟ86.4
$1.97 R$9.81
36.04%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.43 เธฟ46.11
$0.87 R$4.34
64.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 เธฟ377
$38.58 R$192
-69.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 เธฟ97.9
$0.93 R$4.61
226.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 เธฟ33.37
$0.53 R$2.61
96.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.68 เธฟ441
$5.43 R$27.00
151.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 เธฟ41.85
$1.08 R$5.34
20.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K เธฟ898.9K
$14.1K R$70.2K
97.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K เธฟ1.1M
$21.3K R$105.9K
55.02%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 เธฟ3,962
$26.53 R$132
363.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82 เธฟ445
$16.08 R$79.9
-14.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86 เธฟ608
$10.70 R$53.2
76.26%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 เธฟ1,970
$22.47 R$112
172.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81 เธฟ541
$21.26 R$106
-20.93%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 เธฟ286
$3.64 R$18.08
143.68%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 เธฟ22.4K
$331 R$1,644
110.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K เธฟ517.4K
$8,926 R$44.4K
79.90%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 เธฟ1,910
$54.0 R$268
9.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85 เธฟ1,123
$23.01 R$114
51.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 เธฟ3,646
$71.7 R$356
57.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1 เธฟ2,740
$53.5 R$266
59.03%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$615 เธฟ19.8K
$314 R$1,559
96.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 เธฟ14.4K
$215 R$1,067
108.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 เธฟ67.2K
$573 R$2,848
263.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 เธฟ48.2K
$426 R$2,117
251.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,734 เธฟ120.3K
$1,702 R$8,457
119.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,662 เธฟ85.8K
$1,214 R$6,032
119.31%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$534 เธฟ17.2K
$306 R$1,519
74.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6
-11.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Last update for Guararema: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $314 in Guararema. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 75% 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: $46 in Phuket vs $33 in Guararema for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $181 per month, with Guararema 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 Guararema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guararema cheaper than Phuket?
Guararema is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Guararema?
Phuket pays 75% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Guararema?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $314 in Guararema. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket vs Guararema?
All in, you'll spend $1,270 per month in Phuket versus $713 in Guararema โ€“ a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Guararema runs roughly 230% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Guararema?
At $713 in Guararema versus $1,270 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Guararema but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Guararema the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Guararema more family-friendly?
For families, Guararema is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Guararema?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Guararema 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Guararema gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 78% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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