Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tatuí Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Tatuí

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $856 in Tatuí.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,371 in Tatuí.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $1,886 in Tatuí.

Living in Phuket is roughly 44% more expensive than in Tatuí, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket 10% lower, Tatuí 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Tatuí
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$5.82 R$29.96
-24.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,077
$31.22 R$161
3.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿298
$7.09 R$36.53
25.95%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.6
$1.91 R$9.86
51.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.38
$1.32 R$6.79
-33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.06
$0.74 R$3.81
-35.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.5
$1.98 R$10.19
18.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$2.94 R$15.14
26.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Tatuí
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.3
$1.25 R$6.43
49.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.94
$1.10 R$5.68
33.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$2.48 R$12.79
-37.50%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.1
$2.50 R$12.87
-16.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿654
$9.48 R$48.85
106.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$4.14 R$21.32
-17.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿380
$8.19 R$42.20
38.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.6
$2.16 R$11.14
37.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$1.25 R$6.43
34.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$1.20 R$6.16
84.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.1
$1.60 R$8.24
35.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.9
$1.20 R$6.19
26.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.67
$1.05 R$5.40
27.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.67
$0.81 R$4.16
39.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$0.79 R$4.08
-30.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$2.40 R$12.38
77.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿637
$7.56 R$38.95
152.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.4
$1.21 R$6.26
47.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$2.06 R$10.61
34.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Tatuí
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.4
$1.00 R$5.14
123.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿759
$40.49 R$209
-43.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$1.60 R$8.25
89.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.15
$0.85 R$4.38
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$7.69 R$39.61
-49.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.77
$1.12 R$5.78
33.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿887.3K
$30.8K R$158.8K
-13.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿902.2K
$33.4K R$172.1K
-19.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Tatuí
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,420
$71.3 R$368
43.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿378
$11.96 R$61.6
-5.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿581
$20.49 R$106
-15.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Tatuí
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,738
$25.57 R$132
103.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿370
$26.58 R$137
-58.35%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿257
$6.85 R$35.30
12.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Tatuí
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$294 R$1,515
90.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.1K
$7,363 R$37.9K
56.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Tatuí
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,104
$54.0 R$278
16.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿986
$48.38 R$249
-38.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,272
$92.6 R$477
5.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,954
$70.9 R$366
24.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Tatuí
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$336 R$1,730
119.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$235 R$1,213
104.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.3K
$648 R$3,336
225.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.9K
$463 R$2,387
164.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.7K
$1,586 R$8,172
128.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.9K
$1,130 R$5,821
130.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Tatuí
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$424 R$2,187
16.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
11.06
-49.64%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Tatuí: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $336 in Tatuí. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 16% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $31.00 in Tatuí for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $192 per month, with Tatuí 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 Tatuí: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tatuí cheaper than Phuket?
Tatuí is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Tatuí?
Average pay runs 16% higher in Phuket, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Tatuí?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $336 in Tatuí. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $294 in Tatuí. 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 Tatuí?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Tatuí?
At $856 in Tatuí versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tatuí but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Tatuí the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Tatuí more family-friendly?
For families, Tatuí 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 Tatuí?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Tatuí 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 Tatuí gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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