Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Limeira Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Limeira

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $813 in Limeira.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,078 in Phuket versus $1,230 in Limeira.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,896 in Phuket versus $1,648 in Limeira.

Living in Phuket is roughly 55% more expensive than in Limeira, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Limeira 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Limeira
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.43 ฿145
$4.58 R$23.77
-3.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.07 ฿1,151
$15.10 R$78.4
132.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.96 ฿294
$6.67 R$34.65
34.33%
Cappuccino
$3.00 ฿98.4
$1.25 R$6.49
140.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.33
$1.12 R$5.82
-31.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.44
$0.74 R$3.83
-36.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 ฿78.6
$1.38 R$7.16
73.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿123
$1.90 R$9.87
97.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Limeira
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 ฿59.8
$1.02 R$5.30
78.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ฿46.65
$1.50 R$7.78
-5.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.8
$1.00 R$5.21
55.00%
Eggs
$2.13 ฿69.9
$1.89 R$9.84
12.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.76 ฿648
$9.48 R$49.22
108.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿114
$4.36 R$22.66
-20.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.09 ฿364
$6.63 R$34.45
67.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 ฿95.5
$2.05 R$10.67
41.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 ฿54.6
$1.19 R$6.15
39.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿74.5
$1.70 R$8.84
33.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 ฿68.8
$1.65 R$8.57
27.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.24
$1.28 R$6.64
14.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 ฿46.29
$1.29 R$6.71
9.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 ฿35.78
$0.88 R$4.56
23.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ฿17.58
$0.49 R$2.55
10.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48 ฿147
$2.34 R$12.16
91.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.72 ฿614
$7.82 R$40.60
139.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿60.4
$1.29 R$6.71
42.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 ฿96.7
$1.89 R$9.82
56.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Limeira
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿74.1
$1.06 R$5.48
113.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.07 ฿757
$42.91 R$223
-46.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ฿99.9
$1.53 R$7.96
98.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 ฿35.82
$0.39 R$2.05
179.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 ฿125
$16.96 R$88.1
-77.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿48.79
$1.14 R$5.91
30.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K ฿900.3K
$22.6K R$117.2K
21.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ฿902.7K
$31.3K R$162.8K
-12.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Limeira
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,340
$102 R$528
0.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿370
$11.96 R$62.1
-5.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.75 ฿582
$15.28 R$79.4
16.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Limeira
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.2 ฿1,777
$18.80 R$97.6
188.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.96 ฿360
$8.85 R$45.95
23.84%
Cinema Ticket
$7.85 ฿258
$6.82 R$35.39
15.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Limeira
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$577 ฿18.9K
$190 R$986
203.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿381.6K
$9,946 R$51.6K
16.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Limeira
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4 ฿2,144
$53.4 R$277
22.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.89 ฿948
$36.71 R$191
-21.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.1 ฿3,250
$91.4 R$474
8.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 ฿2,961
$49.48 R$257
82.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Limeira
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$756 ฿24.8K
$317 R$1,645
138.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$487 ฿16.0K
$238 R$1,235
104.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 ฿68.4K
$619 R$3,216
236.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 ฿39.6K
$459 R$2,382
163.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,591 ฿117.8K
$1,347 R$6,996
166.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,610 ฿85.6K
$1,102 R$5,721
136.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Limeira
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿16.5K
$530 R$2,750
-5.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
10
-44.30%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 2026

Last update for Limeira: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $756 in Phuket and $317 in Limeira. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Limeira pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Phuket vs $15.00 in Limeira for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $181 per month, with Limeira 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 Limeira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Limeira?
Phuket and Limeira differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($1,261 vs $813 including rent). Limeira is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Limeira. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Limeira?
Rent for a central apartment: $756 in Phuket versus $317 in Limeira. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Limeira – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $35.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $813 in Limeira versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Limeira but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Limeira the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Limeira?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Limeira safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Limeira are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Phuket or Limeira?
Expats usually find Limeira gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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