Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sao Bernardo do Campo Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sao Bernardo do Campo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $826 in Sao Bernardo do Campo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $1,292 in Sao Bernardo do Campo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $1,758 in Sao Bernardo do Campo.

Living in Phuket is roughly 52% more expensive than in Sao Bernardo do Campo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 9% lower, Sao Bernardo do Campo 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿150

$6.76 R$34.65

-32.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.62 ฿1,072

$28.64 R$147

13.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.90 ฿293

$8.42 R$43.15

5.70%

Cappuccino

$2.80 ฿92.2

$1.72 R$8.82

62.79%

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

$0.88 ฿28.93

$1.22 R$6.24

-27.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.08

$0.64 R$3.30

-23.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.5

$2.33 R$11.94

2.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿122

$3.77 R$19.31

-1.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ฿58.7

$0.93 R$4.75

92.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿47.38

$1.93 R$9.88

-25.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 ฿52.1

$1.29 R$6.61

22.48%

Eggs

$2.13 ฿69.9

$1.92 R$9.82

10.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.92 ฿655

$11.23 R$57.6

77.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿113

$4.38 R$22.42

-21.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.33 ฿372

$10.18 R$52.2

11.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 ฿96.9

$2.32 R$11.87

27.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.6

$1.67 R$8.57

2.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ฿76.4

$1.32 R$6.75

75.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$1.48 R$7.59

40.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.33

$1.28 R$6.57

14.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$0.97 R$4.98

40.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 ฿36.12

$0.85 R$4.37

29.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.89

$0.81 R$4.14

-29.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿140

$2.16 R$11.07

97.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 ฿605

$6.75 R$34.60

172.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 ฿61.5

$1.20 R$6.16

55.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 ฿96.0

$2.52 R$12.89

15.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿72.9

$1.09 R$5.58

103.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$1.13 R$5.80

168.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 ฿35.31

$0.60 R$3.10

78.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 ฿129

$2.97 R$15.20

32.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿49.04

$1.09 R$5.59

36.70%

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

$27.1K ฿891.7K

$22.9K R$117.4K

18.38%

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

$27.5K ฿902.3K

$30.9K R$158.3K

-11.17%

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

$103 ฿3,379

$63.5 R$325

61.92%

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

$10.99 ฿361

$15.38 R$78.8

-28.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.51 ฿576

$19.98 R$102

-12.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 ฿1,760

$23.11 R$118

131.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

$32.12 R$165

-65.13%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿246

$6.88 R$35.25

8.72%

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

$557 ฿18.3K

$323 R$1,656

72.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K ฿389.6K

$6,370 R$32.6K

86.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.1 ฿2,106

$36.95 R$189

73.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.07 ฿956

$46.34 R$237

-37.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.0 ฿3,154

$92.8 R$475

3.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,970

$73.2 R$375

23.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$730 ฿24.0K

$326 R$1,672

123.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 ฿16.4K

$245 R$1,256

103.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 ฿68.7K

$953 R$4,884

119.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,209 ฿39.7K

$426 R$2,183

183.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,596 ฿118.2K

$1,535 R$7,865

134.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,512 ฿82.6K

$1,058 R$5,421

137.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$503 ฿16.5K

$379 R$1,941

32.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.81

-48.47%

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

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sao Bernardo do Campo: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $326 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 33% 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: $33.00 in Phuket vs $29.00 in Sao Bernardo do Campo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $205 per month, with Sao Bernardo do Campo 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 Sao Bernardo do Campo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sao Bernardo do Campo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 33% 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: $730 in Phuket versus $326 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $557 in Phuket versus $323 in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Sao Bernardo do Campo – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $33.00 in Phuket. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $826 in Sao Bernardo do Campo versus $1,253 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sao Bernardo do Campo but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sao Bernardo do Campo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Sao Bernardo do Campo 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.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Sao Bernardo do Campo 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 Sao Bernardo do Campo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.