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: $1,261 in Phuket versus $715 in Guararema.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $1,176 in Guararema.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $1,636 in Guararema.

Living in Phuket is roughly 76% more expensive than Guararema, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 6% lower, Guararema 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$4.37 R$22.14
4.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$32.05 R$162
45.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$5.25 R$26.56
61.33%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$0.93 R$4.70
225.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$0.86 R$4.34
-19.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$0.75 R$3.79
-50.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$1.82 R$9.23
36.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$2.76 R$13.96
32.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.02 R$5.19
113.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$1.24 R$6.28
53.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$1.11 R$5.62
98.20%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$2.30 R$11.63
-3.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$9.10 R$46.05
119.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$4.16 R$21.05
-12.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$8.34 R$42.23
58.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$1.92 R$9.73
68.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$1.62 R$8.22
4.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$1.38 R$6.99
73.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$1.40 R$7.09
48.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$1.42 R$7.17
11.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$1.38 R$6.98
7.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$0.35 R$1.76
194.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$0.65 R$3.27
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$1.84 R$9.32
130.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$5.86 R$29.67
220.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$1.36 R$6.88
29.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$2.05 R$10.38
34.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$0.88 R$4.46
54.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$39.16 R$198
-70.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$0.87 R$4.40
260.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$0.49 R$2.50
112.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$5.55 R$28.07
148.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$1.08 R$5.46
24.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$14.4K R$73.0K
92.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$21.5K R$109.1K
57.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$26.64 R$135
363.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$16.23 R$82.2
-16.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$10.86 R$55.0
72.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$22.85 R$116
170.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$21.26 R$108
-18.86%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$3.61 R$18.30
153.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$330 R$1,673
112.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$8,648 R$43.8K
83.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$55.1 R$279
7.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$23.52 R$119
49.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$72.5 R$367
58.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$54.3 R$275
54.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$316 R$1,598
95.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$214 R$1,084
101.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$574 R$2,907
259.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$430 R$2,174
251.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$1,563 R$7,912
133.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$1,133 R$5,736
131.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Guararema
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
$284 R$1,437
78.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
6
-11.17%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

Last update for Guararema: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $316 in Guararema. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 79% 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 $32.00 in Guararema for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $180 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 76% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Guararema?
Phuket pays 79% 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: $619 in Phuket versus $316 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 $1,261 per month in Phuket versus $715 in Guararema – a 76% 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 245% 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 $715 in Guararema versus $1,261 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 – expenses run 76% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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