😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $659 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $1,036 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $1,413 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 90% more expensive than in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$3.55R$18.08
28.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$21.91R$112
110.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$5.72R$29.13
54.55%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$1.47R$7.49
108.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$0.76R$3.86
-3.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$0.39R$2.00
2.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$1.48R$7.52
64.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$2.66R$13.53
42.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$0.92R$4.70
145.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$1.64R$8.34
10.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$1.06R$5.38
112.26%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$1.81R$9.24
24.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$6.31R$32.14
209.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$3.12R$15.90
16.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$5.85R$29.79
123.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$2.17R$11.07
48.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.04R$5.30
55.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$0.70R$3.58
240.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$1.67R$8.52
21.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$1.37R$6.97
11.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$1.16R$5.93
29.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$0.94R$4.78
4.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$0.62R$3.15
-16.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$1.75R$8.93
153.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$6.63R$33.73
176.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$1.04R$5.31
78.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$2.00R$10.17
34.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$0.73R$3.71
93.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$27.14R$138
-56.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$0.56R$2.83
455.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$0.61R$3.11
70.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$6.43R$32.75
119.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$1.07R$5.45
22.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$22.2KR$113.1K
25.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$23.8KR$121.4K
39.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$50.9R$259
140.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$11.90R$60.6
14.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$17.38R$88.5
7.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$20.01R$102
202.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$17.70R$90.1
-4.07%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$2.89R$14.73
213.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$253R$1,286
179.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$7,281R$37.1K
117.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$55.9R$285
4.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$56.7R$289
-37.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$76.9R$392
50.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$41.56R$212
101.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$271R$1,379
130.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$168R$855
165.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$404R$2,057
404.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$345R$1,758
332.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$2,097R$10.7K
66.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$795R$4,048
224.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$526R$2,679
-4.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
8.23
-35.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $271 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $22.00 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $158 per month, with Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP 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 Jose do Rio Preto SP: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP cheaper than Phuket?
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 90% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP?
On paper, salaries run 5% lower in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP. 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 Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $271 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $253 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP. 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 Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP?
Supermarket bills run roughly 84% 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 Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP?
At $659 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP more family-friendly?
For families, Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP 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 Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP 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 Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP gentler on the wallet – expenses run 90% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.