Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mindelo Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Mindelo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $423 in Mindelo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $954 in Mindelo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $1,486 in Mindelo, rent included.

Phuket costs about 196% more than Mindelo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Phuket and Mindelo are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Mindelo 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.55 ฿153

$11.32 CVE 1,093

-59.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.18 ฿1,553

$57.3 CVE 5,534

-19.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿297

Cappuccino

$3.06 ฿103

$1.13 CVE 109

170.80%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 ฿24.40

$1.02 CVE 98.9

-28.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 ฿13.39

$1.03 CVE 99.5

-61.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿81.8

$3.36 CVE 324

-27.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿127

$1.81 CVE 175

108.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿76.0

$1.55 CVE 150

45.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿60.9

$1.16 CVE 112

56.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ฿75.8

$0.81 CVE 77.8

177.78%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.5

$2.72 CVE 263

-17.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿656

$15.92 CVE 1,537

22.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿123

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿439

$18.09 CVE 1,746

-27.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.23 ฿109

$2.19 CVE 211

47.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.4

$1.94 CVE 188

-16.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿80.1

$3.00 CVE 290

-20.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿68.1

$3.17 CVE 306

-35.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.6

$0.85 CVE 82.5

80.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.5

$1.68 CVE 162

-10.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.91

$1.08 CVE 104

-9.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.39

$0.74 CVE 71.5

-29.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.44 ฿149

$5.32 CVE 513

-16.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿616

$8.33 CVE 804

119.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.7

$1.93 CVE 186

-3.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿90.1

$2.03 CVE 196

32.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.41 ฿47.46

$0.46 CVE 44.53

206.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿393

$31.02 CVE 2,995

-62.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ฿105

$1.55 CVE 150

100.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿35.06

$1.46 CVE 141

-28.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.11 ฿474

$10.52 CVE 1,016

34.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 ฿44.10

$1.78 CVE 172

-26.40%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿935.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.2K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿4,118

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.59 ฿457

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 ฿629

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.5 ฿2,034

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿571

$3.15 CVE 305

439.05%

Cinema Ticket

$9.07 ฿305

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$706 ฿23.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿531.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.6 ฿1,969

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.36 ฿1,189

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,883

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 ฿2,816

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$626 ฿21.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$445 ฿15.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,040 ฿68.6K

$365 CVE 35.2K

459.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿50.2K

$259 CVE 25.0K

475.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,483 ฿117.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,577 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$500 ฿16.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mindelo: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $57.0 in Mindelo. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Phuket vs $243 in Mindelo – so Mindelo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mindelo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 196%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $634 in Mindelo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 165% less in Mindelo. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mindelo, where all-in costs run around $423, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Mindelo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mindelo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mindelo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.