ðA single person spends $1,247 per month in Phuket vs $1,561 in Penafiel, rent included.
ðA couple spends around $2,276 per month in Phuket vs $2,309 in Penafiel, rent included.
ðA family of three spends $3,306 per month in Phuket vs $3,056 in Penafiel, rent included.
ðPhuket is about 20% cheaper than Penafiel, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
ðPhuket sits 7% below the global median, while Penafiel is 16% above â they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Penafiel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.59āļŋ147
$10.61âŽ9.02
-56.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.83āļŋ1,501
$47.05âŽ40.04
-0.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.70āļŋ279
$9.03âŽ7.68
-3.65%
Cappuccino
$2.92āļŋ93.7
$1.13âŽ0.96
158.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68āļŋ21.92
$1.40âŽ1.19
-51.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40āļŋ12.70
$0.68âŽ0.58
-41.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51āļŋ80.4
$2.36âŽ2.01
6.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80āļŋ122
$3.52âŽ3.00
7.95%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Penafiel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16āļŋ69.3
$1.03âŽ0.88
109.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.88āļŋ60.3
$1.18âŽ1.00
59.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16āļŋ69.2
$1.46âŽ1.24
47.95%
Eggs
$2.22āļŋ71.2
$3.02âŽ2.57
-26.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.57āļŋ627
$11.40âŽ9.70
71.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.80āļŋ122
$7.70âŽ6.55
-50.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.41āļŋ430
$13.82âŽ11.76
-2.97%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26āļŋ104
$2.22âŽ1.89
46.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.7
$1.51âŽ1.29
6.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31āļŋ74.0
$2.01âŽ1.71
14.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06āļŋ66.0
$2.18âŽ1.86
-5.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61āļŋ51.5
$0.89âŽ0.76
80.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44āļŋ46.26
$1.54âŽ1.31
-6.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03āļŋ33.01
$1.13âŽ0.96
-8.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48āļŋ15.39
$0.39âŽ0.33
23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.50āļŋ144
$6.18âŽ5.26
-27.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18āļŋ615
$4.39âŽ3.73
336.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82āļŋ58.4
$1.14âŽ0.97
59.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69āļŋ86.2
$2.63âŽ2.24
2.28%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Penafiel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.38āļŋ44.16
$2.28âŽ1.94
-39.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.76āļŋ377
$42.80âŽ36.42
-72.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11āļŋ99.6
$4.61âŽ3.93
-32.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.18
$1.24âŽ1.06
-19.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.74āļŋ441
$14.49âŽ12.34
-5.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30āļŋ41.61
$1.89âŽ1.61
-31.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4Kāļŋ877.0K
$38.7KâŽ32.9K
-29.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kāļŋ1.1M
$40.1KâŽ34.1K
-17.56%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Penafiel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,004
$135âŽ115
-7.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74āļŋ440
$21.72âŽ18.48
-36.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.61āļŋ597
$41.39âŽ35.22
-55.04%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Penafiel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.6āļŋ1,941
$44.33âŽ37.73
36.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15āļŋ550
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.01āļŋ289
$4.55âŽ3.87
98.02%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Penafiel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.4K
$341âŽ290
104.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1Kāļŋ516.5K
$8,485âŽ7,221
89.89%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Penafiel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2āļŋ1,898
$72.8âŽ62.0
-18.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.86āļŋ1,118
$34.48âŽ29.34
1.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114āļŋ3,662
$94.1âŽ80.1
21.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8āļŋ2,751
$158âŽ135
-45.73%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Penafiel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619āļŋ19.8K
$933âŽ794
-33.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437āļŋ14.0K
$717âŽ610
-39.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,075āļŋ66.5K
$1,458âŽ1,241
42.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,509āļŋ48.4K
$1,165âŽ992
29.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,764āļŋ120.7K
$2,310âŽ1,966
62.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,694āļŋ86.4K
$2,192âŽ1,866
22.85%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Penafiel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528āļŋ16.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.43
-1.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026
Last update for Penafiel: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A central one-bedroom costs $619 in Phuket versus $933 in Penafiel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
ðA mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Phuket versus $47 in Penafiel. Groceries tell a different story â $292 in Phuket vs $228 in Penafiel â so Penafiel 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 Penafiel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Penafiel cheaper than Phuket?
Yes â Penafiel is pricier by about 25%, 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 $1,870 per month in Phuket and $2,342 in Penafiel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled â not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 264% less in Phuket. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $698 per month in Phuket and $341 in Penafiel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Penafiel?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Penafiel at $1,561. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Penafiel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Phuket or Penafiel more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phuket â 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 Penafiel?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison â central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Penafiel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.