Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maringa Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Maringa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $794 in Maringa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $1,209 in Maringa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,624 in Maringa.

Living in Phuket is roughly 54% more expensive than Maringa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 8% lower, Maringa 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Maringa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51 ฿147
$5.76 R$29.32
-21.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62 ฿1,515
$21.69 R$110
114.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.49 ฿276
$7.12 R$36.21
19.24%
Cappuccino
$3.08 ฿100
$1.82 R$9.28
69.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.07
$1.15 R$5.83
-40.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.75
$0.71 R$3.64
-49.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿78.8
$1.42 R$7.22
71.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿118
$2.64 R$13.44
37.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Maringa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.19 ฿71.1
$1.12 R$5.67
95.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿59.0
$1.44 R$7.33
25.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 ฿72.5
$1.36 R$6.91
63.97%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿72.7
$1.82 R$9.26
23.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.60 ฿637
$9.40 R$47.83
108.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 ฿121
$3.45 R$17.53
7.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.47 ฿438
$7.54 R$38.37
78.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 ฿109
$1.73 R$8.80
94.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿52.5
$1.35 R$6.88
20.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.3
$0.82 R$4.19
193.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿64.6
$1.29 R$6.54
54.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.76
$1.00 R$5.10
53.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 ฿47.19
$0.92 R$4.68
57.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ฿32.96
$0.79 R$4.04
27.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.73
$0.70 R$3.54
-31.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 ฿139
$2.11 R$10.75
102.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.12 ฿621
$7.84 R$39.90
143.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿59.7
$0.70 R$3.58
162.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 ฿89.1
$1.46 R$7.43
87.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Maringa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿46.06
$0.86 R$4.39
65.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.72 ฿381
$53.9 R$274
-78.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 ฿97.6
$2.13 R$10.84
40.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.05 ฿34.00
$0.65 R$3.33
61.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.90 ฿452
$6.45 R$32.80
115.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ฿41.94
$1.05 R$5.35
22.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ฿911.1K
$43.9K R$223.2K
-36.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K ฿1.1M
$28.8K R$146.3K
16.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Maringa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,964
$78.4 R$399
55.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93 ฿453
$13.63 R$69.4
2.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87 ฿613
$18.91 R$96.2
-0.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Maringa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.3 ฿1,992
$19.49 R$99.2
214.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 ฿547
$45.39 R$231
-62.90%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89 ฿289
$5.29 R$26.92
68.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Maringa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$691 ฿22.5K
$274 R$1,394
152.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K ฿525.2K
$7,003 R$35.6K
130.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Maringa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 ฿1,878
$38.49 R$196
50.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39 ฿1,150
$52.1 R$265
-32.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,685
$78.1 R$397
45.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0 ฿2,698
$53.8 R$274
54.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Maringa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$607 ฿19.7K
$349 R$1,774
73.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.6K
$204 R$1,038
119.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 ฿66.0K
$493 R$2,509
311.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 ฿48.5K
$322 R$1,640
363.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,585 ฿116.5K
$1,445 R$7,352
148.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,585 ฿84.0K
$955 R$4,860
170.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Maringa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ฿16.4K
$774 R$3,937
-34.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
11.5
-53.65%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Maringa: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $349 in Maringa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Maringa pays 53% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $22.00 in Maringa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $171 per month, with Maringa 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 Maringa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maringa cheaper than Phuket?
Maringa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Maringa?
On paper, Maringa earns 53% less. 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 Maringa?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $349 in Maringa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Maringa runs roughly 360% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $691 in Phuket versus $274 in Maringa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Maringa?
At $794 in Maringa versus $1,223 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maringa but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Maringa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Maringa more family-friendly?
For families, Maringa 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 Maringa?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Maringa 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 Maringa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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