Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nova Iguacu Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Nova Iguacu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $738 in Nova Iguacu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,203 in Nova Iguacu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,667 in Nova Iguacu.

Living in Phuket is roughly 67% more expensive than in Nova Iguacu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Nova Iguacu 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.41 ฿147

$3.43 R$17.66

28.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.26 ฿1,074

$29.27 R$151

10.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 ฿297

$7.46 R$38.36

19.71%

Cappuccino

$2.90 ฿96.4

$1.91 R$9.84

51.83%

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

$0.88 ฿29.30

$1.14 R$5.85

-22.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.01

$0.53 R$2.74

-9.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 ฿78.3

$1.64 R$8.43

43.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 ฿124

$1.59 R$8.16

133.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 ฿62.1

$1.17 R$6.04

59.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ฿48.81

$1.60 R$8.21

-8.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.7

$1.13 R$5.80

37.17%

Eggs

$2.10 ฿70.0

$2.00 R$10.29

5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.59 ฿652

$8.04 R$41.36

143.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$2.75 R$14.14

24.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ฿379

$7.14 R$36.73

59.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 ฿99.3

$1.38 R$7.08

115.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.1

$1.37 R$7.06

22.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ฿73.5

$0.94 R$4.85

135.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.16 ฿72.0

$1.77 R$9.08

22.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.8

$1.00 R$5.14

52.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.55

$0.94 R$4.82

42.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ฿37.57

$0.37 R$1.92

205.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ฿18.19

$0.37 R$1.93

48.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 ฿142

$1.82 R$9.37

134.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.09 ฿635

$5.82 R$29.92

228.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.2

$0.93 R$4.79

91.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿92.6

$1.39 R$7.14

100.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.23 ฿74.2

$1.38 R$7.07

61.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.74 ฿757

$48.44 R$249

-53.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿101

$1.25 R$6.45

142.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ฿34.06

$1.39 R$7.15

-26.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 ฿130

$9.59 R$49.30

-59.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.63

$1.10 R$5.66

35.45%

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

$26.6K ฿884.9K

$22.9K R$117.9K

15.91%

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

$27.0K ฿899.8K

$32.8K R$168.8K

-17.66%

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

$102 ฿3,411

$45.61 R$235

124.67%

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

$11.33 ฿377

$11.81 R$60.8

-4.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.40 ฿579

$17.89 R$92.0

-2.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 ฿1,734

$23.56 R$121

121.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ฿369

$38.38 R$197

-71.16%

Cinema Ticket

$7.69 ฿256

$5.81 R$29.88

32.36%

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

$561 ฿18.7K

$72.8 R$374

670.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ฿383.0K

$1,878 R$9,657

512.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.0 ฿2,098

$53.9 R$277

16.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.52 ฿983

$37.27 R$192

-20.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 ฿3,263

$63.9 R$328

53.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.5 ฿2,946

$58.3 R$300

51.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$738 ฿24.6K

$315 R$1,618

134.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.1K

$211 R$1,083

129.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,107 ฿70.1K

$620 R$3,189

239.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,226 ฿40.8K

$443 R$2,277

176.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,617 ฿120.4K

$936 R$4,812

286.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,603 ฿86.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.4K

$235 R$1,210

109.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.12

-49.91%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Nova Iguacu: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $315 in Nova Iguacu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 110% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $29.00 in Nova Iguacu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $157 per month, with Nova Iguacu 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 Nova Iguacu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket and Nova Iguacu differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($1,232 vs $738 including rent). Nova Iguacu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 110% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $315 in Nova Iguacu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $738 in Nova Iguacu – a 67% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Nova Iguacu runs roughly 113% less than in Phuket. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $738 in Nova Iguacu versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nova Iguacu but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Nova Iguacu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Nova Iguacu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Nova Iguacu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.