Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP

For one person, living is cheaper in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP: $835 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
🇧🇷 Brazil
$835
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP

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 Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,208 in Phuket versus $835 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP $835

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Phuket versus $1,288 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP $1,288

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Phuket versus $1,742 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP $1,742

Living in Phuket is roughly 45% more expensive than in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 11% lower, Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP 38% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$4.43 R$22.44
-0.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$27.29 R$138
18.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$9.07 R$45.98
-3.42%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$2.37 R$12.02
19.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$1.32 R$6.69
-31.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$0.80 R$4.06
-41.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$1.95 R$9.88
30.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$3.54 R$17.96
8.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$0.86 R$4.34
101.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$1.77 R$8.97
-16.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$1.17 R$5.95
29.06%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$2.03 R$10.28
6.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$6.77 R$34.33
190.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$4.24 R$21.48
-21.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$6.65 R$33.73
67.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$2.31 R$11.71
23.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$1.14 R$5.77
49.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$0.83 R$4.20
163.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$1.39 R$7.05
47.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$1.30 R$6.60
11.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$1.18 R$6.00
16.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$0.97 R$4.93
10.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$0.63 R$3.19
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$1.96 R$9.95
117.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$7.14 R$36.19
160.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$1.09 R$5.51
63.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$2.32 R$11.77
22.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
$1.11 R$5.63
103.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
$29.19 R$148
-24.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$0.63 R$3.17
377.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$0.77 R$3.90
37.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$6.81 R$34.50
-43.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$1.21 R$6.11
19.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$22.9K R$115.9K
15.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$30.4K R$154.3K
-11.50%
🧾 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)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$66.4 R$337
45.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$13.68 R$69.4
-19.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$18.93 R$96.0
-9.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
$21.99 R$111
137.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
$19.77 R$100
-43.55%
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$3.92 R$19.85
99.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$274 R$1,390
102.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$7,947 R$40.3K
45.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$65.5 R$332
-2.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$55.9 R$283
-48.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$89.7 R$455
6.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$45.32 R$230
94.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$422 R$2,139
74.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$265 R$1,343
74.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$603 R$3,055
247.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$461 R$2,336
160.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
$2,150 R$10.9K
62.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$835 R$4,231
202.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
$537 R$2,724
-6.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
8.23
-32.32%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
$265 42.7% $197
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
$171 36.2% $97
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
$99 20.5% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
$115 7.2% $8.9
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
$116 4% $4.8
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
$30 56% $38
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
$38 3.4% $1.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Phuket and $422 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 7% 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 $27.00 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $171 per month, with Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇧🇷 Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP
🕒 Local time
18:40 6:40 PM
08:40 8:40 AM
10 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
480,393
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 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 20, 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 Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP 16,270 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP

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 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, clothing, and eating out. The 45% 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 7% 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: $737 in Phuket versus $422 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 $556 in Phuket versus $274 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 57% 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 $835 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto SP versus $1,208 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 45% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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