Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ribeirao Preto

For one person, living is cheaper in Ribeirao Preto: $873 a month against $1,207 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,207
/mo nomad
Ribeirao Preto
🇧🇷 Brazil
$873
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Ribeirao Preto

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Ribeirao Preto actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Phuket versus $873 in Ribeirao Preto.

  • Phuket $1,207
  • Ribeirao Preto $873

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,037 in Phuket versus $1,420 in Ribeirao Preto.

  • Phuket $2,037
  • Ribeirao Preto $1,420

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,867 in Phuket versus $1,967 in Ribeirao Preto.

  • Phuket $2,867
  • Ribeirao Preto $1,967

Living in Phuket is roughly 38% more expensive than in Ribeirao Preto, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Ribeirao Preto 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ribeirao Preto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.58 ฿153
$8.08 R$40.94
-43.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.48 ฿1,086
$50.4 R$255
-35.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 ฿286
$7.62 R$38.63
12.20%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.0
$1.77 R$8.99
53.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ฿31.25
$1.03 R$5.22
-8.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.39
$0.81 R$4.13
-39.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 ฿86.6
$1.22 R$6.19
112.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$2.01 R$10.20
90.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ribeirao Preto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.1
$0.99 R$5.03
75.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$1.78 R$9.01
-19.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.0
$0.99 R$5.00
54.55%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$2.32 R$11.78
-6.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.15 ฿640
$9.92 R$50.3
93.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿110
$4.27 R$21.64
-22.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.14 ฿372
$8.90 R$45.13
25.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 ฿98.5
$2.81 R$14.24
4.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.1
$1.37 R$6.96
22.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿76.8
$1.46 R$7.40
57.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$1.95 R$9.87
9.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$1.32 R$6.70
15.91%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.55
$0.99 R$5.02
37.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$1.14 R$5.80
-1.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.91 R$4.62
-39.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$2.58 R$13.10
65.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.19 ฿608
$8.87 R$44.95
105.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿58.2
$1.21 R$6.16
43.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 ฿93.3
$1.79 R$9.05
55.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ribeirao Preto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.22 ฿74.1
$1.05 R$5.31
111.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.06 ฿737
$52.4 R$265
-57.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.91 ฿97.3
$1.17 R$5.92
148.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ฿33.79
$1.43 R$7.23
-29.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.83 ฿128
$8.26 R$41.87
-53.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.85
$1.26 R$6.37
18.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7K ฿891.6K
$23.8K R$120.5K
12.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿892.7K
$32.4K R$164.0K
-17.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ribeirao Preto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.4 ฿3,321
$84.7 R$429
17.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.28 ฿377
$12.14 R$61.5
-7.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.36 ฿580
$17.71 R$89.8
-1.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ribeirao Preto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 ฿1,747
$21.33 R$108
145.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.85 ฿362
$24.90 R$126
-56.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿253
$7.85 R$39.78
-3.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ribeirao Preto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$558 ฿18.7K
$243 R$1,233
129.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿383.9K
$5,927 R$30.0K
93.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ribeirao Preto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 ฿2,102
$52.8 R$268
19.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.58 ฿955
$43.30 R$219
-34.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,213
$83.0 R$421
15.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.1 ฿2,943
$55.7 R$283
57.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ribeirao Preto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$729 ฿24.4K
$269 R$1,366
170.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$460 ฿15.4K
$219 R$1,111
109.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$507 R$2,572
313.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 ฿40.8K
$396 R$2,005
209.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,459 ฿115.6K
$1,353 R$6,857
155.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,489 ฿83.2K
$984 R$4,989
152.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ribeirao Preto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$493 ฿16.5K
$589 R$2,986
-16.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
13.62
-59.10%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 13, 2026

Last update for Ribeirao Preto: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$460
Ribeirao Preto
$219 52.3% $241
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$268
Ribeirao Preto
$205 23.2% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$128
Ribeirao Preto
$115 10.5% $13
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Ribeirao Preto
$106 14.8% $18
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Ribeirao Preto
$126 4.1% $4.9
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$67
Ribeirao Preto
$37 45.1% $30
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Ribeirao Preto
$65 66.8% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Phuket and $269 in Ribeirao Preto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ribeirao Preto pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $50.0 in Ribeirao Preto. Groceries flip the comparison at $268 vs $205, with Ribeirao Preto cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇧🇷 Ribeirao Preto
🕒 Local time
18:49 6:49 PM
08:49 8:49 AM
10 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
698,642
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Ribeirao Preto 16,100 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Ribeirao Preto

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ribeirao Preto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ribeirao Preto cheaper than Phuket?
Ribeirao Preto is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Ribeirao Preto?
On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Ribeirao Preto. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Ribeirao Preto?
Rent for a central apartment: $729 in Phuket versus $269 in Ribeirao Preto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $558 in Phuket versus $243 in Ribeirao Preto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and in Ribeirao Preto?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Ribeirao Preto?
At $873 in Ribeirao Preto versus $1,207 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ribeirao Preto but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ribeirao Preto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Ribeirao Preto more family-friendly?
For families, Ribeirao Preto is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Ribeirao Preto?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Ribeirao Preto are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ribeirao Preto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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