😐A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $744 in Novo Hamburgo, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $1,192 in Novo Hamburgo, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $1,640 in Novo Hamburgo, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 69% more than Novo Hamburgo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Novo Hamburgo are more affordable than the global median – Phuket9% lower, Novo Hamburgo46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$4.83R$24.75
-5.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,072
$18.20R$93.3
79.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$6.81R$34.91
30.69%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$1.58R$8.10
77.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.93
$1.28R$6.54
-31.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$0.88R$4.49
-44.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$2.27R$11.61
5.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$2.92R$14.99
27.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.7
$0.88R$4.52
103.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.38
$1.66R$8.49
-13.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$0.73R$3.76
116.44%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$2.10R$10.76
1.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$8.71R$44.63
128.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$4.41R$22.58
-22.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$7.00R$35.89
61.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿96.9
$2.35R$12.04
25.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$1.06R$5.43
62.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.4
$0.80R$4.11
190.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$1.22R$6.23
70.49%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.33
$1.16R$5.94
26.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.64
$0.97R$4.99
40.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.12
$0.87R$4.47
26.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$0.60R$3.06
-5.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$1.78R$9.10
139.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿605
$7.30R$37.39
152.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
$1.13R$5.80
65.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.0
$2.06R$10.57
41.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿72.9
$0.78R$4.00
184.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
$44.27R$227
-48.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$1.24R$6.34
144.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.31
$0.78R$4.02
37.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$8.13R$41.67
-51.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.04
$1.08R$5.51
37.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿891.7K
$23.1KR$118.5K
17.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.3K
$33.0KR$169.2K
-16.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,379
$73.3R$375
40.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$12.16R$62.3
-9.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$21.69R$111
-19.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$25.21R$129
112.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
$27.05R$139
-58.60%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$6.71R$34.36
11.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$294R$1,505
89.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.6K
$7,339R$37.6K
61.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,106
$44.94R$230
42.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$36.23R$186
-19.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,154
$77.2R$395
24.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$39.75R$204
127.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$258R$1,323
182.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$184R$944
171.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
$544R$2,786
284.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.7K
$428R$2,193
182.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
$1,623R$8,318
121.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
$1,128R$5,779
122.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Novo Hamburgo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.5K
$475R$2,434
5.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
11
-49.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Novo Hamburgo: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $730 in Phuket versus $258 in Novo Hamburgo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 6% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket versus $18.00 in Novo Hamburgo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $174 – making Novo Hamburgo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Novo Hamburgo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novo Hamburgo cheaper than Phuket?
Yes – Phuket is pricier by about 69%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,880 per month in Phuket and $1,115 in Novo Hamburgo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Novo Hamburgo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Novo Hamburgo?
Groceries cost about 57% more in Phuket, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or in Novo Hamburgo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket and $18.00 in Novo Hamburgo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Novo Hamburgo?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novo Hamburgo, where all-in costs run around $744, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Novo Hamburgo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Novo Hamburgo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Novo Hamburgo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Novo Hamburgo?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Novo Hamburgo. 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.