😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $831 in Três Lagoas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $1,440 in Três Lagoas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $2,049 in Três Lagoas.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 48% more expensive than in Três Lagoas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket10% lower, Três Lagoas39% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Três Lagoas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41฿147
$5.87R$30.26
-24.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26฿1,077
$31.66R$163
1.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.93฿298
$7.34R$37.80
21.66%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿96.6
$1.91R$9.83
51.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿29.38
$1.31R$6.75
-32.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.06
$0.79R$4.05
-39.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.35฿78.5
$1.93R$9.93
21.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72฿124
$2.91R$15.01
27.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Três Lagoas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87฿62.3
$1.44R$7.41
29.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47฿48.94
$2.11R$10.89
-30.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55฿51.8
$2.20R$11.35
-29.55%
Eggs
$2.10฿70.1
$3.57R$18.39
-41.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.59฿654
$5.80R$29.87
237.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42฿114
$5.42R$27.93
-36.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38฿380
$6.30R$32.43
80.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98฿99.6
$1.62R$8.35
83.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68฿56.2
$1.39R$7.17
20.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿73.7
$1.45R$7.47
52.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16฿72.1
$2.29R$11.81
-5.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿50.9
$1.72R$8.86
-11.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34฿44.67
$1.10R$5.65
21.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13฿37.67
$0.80R$4.10
41.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55฿18.24
$0.60R$3.12
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26฿142
$1.93R$9.93
120.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.09฿637
$7.83R$40.32
143.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿59.4
$1.01R$5.20
76.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿92.9
$2.06R$10.62
34.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Três Lagoas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.23฿74.4
$1.06R$5.45
110.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.74฿759
$43.23R$223
-47.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿101
$1.22R$6.30
148.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02฿34.15
$0.81R$4.15
25.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.89฿130
$7.89R$40.63
-50.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.77
$1.21R$6.25
23.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K฿887.3K
$22.9KR$117.8K
16.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿902.2K
$32.2KR$166.1K
-16.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Três Lagoas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102฿3,420
$73.1R$376
40.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33฿378
$12.06R$62.1
-6.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40฿581
$20.73R$107
-16.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Três Lagoas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.1฿1,738
$25.63R$132
103.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07฿370
$27.23R$140
-59.35%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69฿257
$6.93R$35.72
10.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Três Lagoas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$561฿18.7K
$289R$1,491
93.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5K฿384.1K
$6,777R$34.9K
69.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Três Lagoas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0฿2,104
$53.1R$273
18.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52฿986
$49.60R$256
-40.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0฿3,272
$91.4R$471
7.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5฿2,954
$69.9R$360
26.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Três Lagoas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$738฿24.6K
$382R$1,970
93.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482฿16.1K
$198R$1,021
143.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,107฿70.3K
$843R$4,342
149.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,226฿40.9K
$644R$3,317
90.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,617฿120.7K
$1,621R$8,351
123.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,603฿86.9K
$1,120R$5,768
132.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Três Lagoas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$494฿16.5K
$174R$898
183.27%
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 Três Lagoas: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $382 in Três Lagoas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 183% 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 $32.00 in Três Lagoas. Groceries flip the comparison at $274 vs $198, with Três Lagoas cheaper for home cooking.
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 Três Lagoas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Três Lagoas cheaper than Phuket?
Três Lagoas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Três Lagoas?
Average pay runs 183% 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 Três Lagoas?
Rent for a central apartment: $738 in Phuket versus $382 in Três Lagoas. 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 $289 in Três Lagoas. 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 Três Lagoas?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Três Lagoas?
At $831 in Três Lagoas versus $1,232 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Três Lagoas but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Três Lagoas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Três Lagoas more family-friendly?
For families, Três Lagoas 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 Três Lagoas?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Três Lagoas 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 Três Lagoas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.