Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Paulo Afonso Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Paulo Afonso

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,232 per month in Phuket vs $785 in Paulo Afonso, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Phuket vs $1,237 in Paulo Afonso, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,279 per month in Phuket vs $1,689 in Paulo Afonso, rent included.

Phuket costs about 57% more than Paulo Afonso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Paulo Afonso are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 8% lower, Paulo Afonso 41% lower.

Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
Phuket
Paulo Afonso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 āļŋ151
$5.33 R$26.58
-13.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84 āļŋ1,532
$26.73 R$133
75.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 āļŋ289
$6.18 R$30.82
43.04%
Cappuccino
$3.00 āļŋ98.0
$1.79 R$8.92
67.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 āļŋ24.25
$1.08 R$5.37
-31.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 āļŋ11.95
$0.66 R$3.28
-43.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 āļŋ79.8
$1.85 R$9.24
31.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 āļŋ118
$2.75 R$13.74
31.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Paulo Afonso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 āļŋ73.9
$1.00 R$4.98
126.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.84 āļŋ60.1
$1.47 R$7.32
25.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 āļŋ73.4
$1.14 R$5.70
96.49%
Eggs
$2.32 āļŋ75.7
$1.95 R$9.73
18.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.67 āļŋ643
$8.32 R$41.50
136.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 āļŋ119
$3.59 R$17.92
1.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.10 āļŋ428
$7.15 R$35.67
83.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 āļŋ111
$2.12 R$10.59
59.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 āļŋ53.7
$1.29 R$6.45
27.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 āļŋ79.0
$1.18 R$5.91
104.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 āļŋ66.4
$1.52 R$7.60
33.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 āļŋ50.9
$1.16 R$5.77
34.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 āļŋ48.94
$1.06 R$5.27
41.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 āļŋ33.50
$0.75 R$3.75
36.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 āļŋ16.00
$0.65 R$3.27
-24.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45 āļŋ145
$2.07 R$10.32
114.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.88 āļŋ617
$7.78 R$38.85
142.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 āļŋ58.1
$1.23 R$6.13
44.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 āļŋ90.1
$2.06 R$10.27
33.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Paulo Afonso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.40 āļŋ45.81
$0.92 R$4.58
52.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 āļŋ376
$37.96 R$189
-69.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 āļŋ102
$1.11 R$5.54
181.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.00 āļŋ32.67
$0.70 R$3.51
42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.09 āļŋ461
$6.36 R$31.75
121.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 āļŋ44.19
$1.08 R$5.38
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K āļŋ888.9K
$20.3K R$101.5K
33.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K āļŋ1.1M
$27.3K R$136.1K
20.74%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Paulo Afonso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$125 āļŋ4,087
$59.5 R$297
110.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 āļŋ444
$13.59 R$67.8
-0.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52 āļŋ606
$19.17 R$95.7
-3.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Paulo Afonso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 āļŋ2,010
$22.11 R$110
178.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84 āļŋ551
$21.68 R$108
-22.32%
Cinema Ticket
$9.19 āļŋ300
$6.43 R$32.08
42.92%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Paulo Afonso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$698 āļŋ22.8K
$275 R$1,372
153.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.6K āļŋ509.9K
$6,441 R$32.1K
142.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Paulo Afonso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8 āļŋ1,889
$49.23 R$246
17.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24 āļŋ1,152
$42.63 R$213
-17.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 āļŋ3,699
$77.2 R$385
46.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 āļŋ2,825
$65.6 R$327
31.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Paulo Afonso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 āļŋ20.1K
$317 R$1,581
94.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 āļŋ14.6K
$214 R$1,067
108.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,048 āļŋ67.0K
$578 R$2,883
254.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 āļŋ48.8K
$426 R$2,124
250.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,779 āļŋ123.6K
$1,686 R$8,413
124.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,649 āļŋ86.6K
$1,176 R$5,870
125.15%
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Paulo Afonso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$524 āļŋ17.1K
$244 R$1,220
114.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
10.92
-51.19%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Last update for Paulo Afonso: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $616 in Phuket versus $317 in Paulo Afonso. 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 114% 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 $47.00 in Phuket versus $27.00 in Paulo Afonso. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $174 – making Paulo Afonso 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 Paulo Afonso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Paulo Afonso?
Phuket costs about 57% more than Paulo Afonso, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket vs Paulo Afonso?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,847 per month in Phuket and $1,178 in Paulo Afonso. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Paulo Afonso?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Paulo Afonso, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Phuket compared to Paulo Afonso?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,232 in Phuket and $785 in Paulo Afonso. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Phuket vs Paulo Afonso?
Public transport costs about 231% less in Paulo Afonso. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Phuket or Paulo Afonso?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Paulo Afonso, where all-in costs run around $785, than in Phuket at $1,232. In Paulo Afonso it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Paulo Afonso?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Paulo Afonso costs $785 versus $1,232 in Phuket. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Paulo Afonso?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or Paulo Afonso?
If budget matters most, go with Paulo Afonso. 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.

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