Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maceio - Alagoas

For one person, living is cheaper in Maceio - Alagoas: $851 a month against $1,207 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Maceio - Alagoas
🇧🇷 Brazil
$851
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Maceio - Alagoas

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Maceio - Alagoas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $851 in Maceio - Alagoas.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Maceio - Alagoas $851

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $1,333 in Maceio - Alagoas.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Maceio - Alagoas $1,333

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $1,815 in Maceio - Alagoas.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Maceio - Alagoas $1,815

Living in Phuket is roughly 42% more expensive than in Maceio - Alagoas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Maceio - Alagoas 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$5.92 R$30.02
-22.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$29.81 R$151
8.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$5.87 R$29.75
45.66%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$1.77 R$8.97
53.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$1.09 R$5.50
-13.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$0.48 R$2.46
2.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$1.64 R$8.30
57.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$4.18 R$21.20
-8.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$1.11 R$5.62
56.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$2.07 R$10.51
-30.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$1.06 R$5.36
44.34%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$1.94 R$9.86
11.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$9.54 R$48.35
100.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$4.52 R$22.91
-26.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$7.66 R$38.83
45.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$2.86 R$14.48
3.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.13 R$5.71
48.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$1.38 R$6.99
66.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$1.35 R$6.87
57.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$1.42 R$7.20
7.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$1.32 R$6.70
3.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$0.58 R$2.94
93.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.84 R$4.24
-34.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$2.09 R$10.61
103.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$6.96 R$35.27
161.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$1.61 R$8.16
8.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$1.45 R$7.36
92.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$0.79 R$4.00
181.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$0.39 R$1.96
646.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$0.42 R$2.12
140.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$1.28 R$6.50
16.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$21.7K R$110.2K
22.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$31.4K R$159.0K
-14.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$81.5 R$413
21.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$16.69 R$84.6
-32.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$17.82 R$90.3
-2.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$24.34 R$123
114.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$5.98 R$30.32
26.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$219 R$1,111
154.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$7,075 R$35.9K
62.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$55.5 R$281
13.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$78.3 R$397
-63.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$94.0 R$476
2.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$79.2 R$401
11.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$295 R$1,493
147.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$250 R$1,269
83.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$500 R$2,535
319.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$474 R$2,401
158.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$1,507 R$7,638
129.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$698 R$3,538
256.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Maceio - Alagoas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$601 R$3,045
-17.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
10.17
-45.23%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Maceio - Alagoas: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Maceio - Alagoas
$250 45.6% $210
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Maceio - Alagoas
$195 26.9% $72
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Maceio - Alagoas
$116 9.4% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Maceio - Alagoas
$138 11.3% $14
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Maceio - Alagoas
$109 10.1% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Maceio - Alagoas
$36 46.2% $31
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Maceio - Alagoas
$5.6 * 85.5% $33

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $295 in Maceio - Alagoas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Maceio - Alagoas pays 22% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $30.00 in Maceio - Alagoas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $195 per month, with Maceio - Alagoas cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇧🇷 Maceio - Alagoas
🕒 Local time
15:42 3:42 PM
05:42 5:42 AM
10 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
1,031,597
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Maceio - Alagoas 14,970 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Maceio - Alagoas

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Maceio - Alagoas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maceio - Alagoas cheaper than Phuket?
Maceio - Alagoas is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Maceio - Alagoas?
On paper, salaries run 22% lower in Maceio - Alagoas. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Maceio - Alagoas?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $295 in Maceio - Alagoas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Maceio - Alagoas?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Maceio - Alagoas?
All in, you'll spend $1,207 per month in Phuket versus $851 in Maceio - Alagoas – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Maceio - Alagoas?
At $851 in Maceio - Alagoas versus $1,207 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maceio - Alagoas but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Maceio - Alagoas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Maceio - Alagoas more family-friendly?
For families, Maceio - Alagoas 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 Maceio - Alagoas?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Maceio - Alagoas 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 Maceio - Alagoas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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