😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $760 in Valinhos.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,276 in Phuket versus $1,280 in Valinhos.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,291 in Phuket versus $1,799 in Valinhos.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 66% more expensive than in Valinhos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket6% lower, Valinhos43% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Valinhos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53฿153
$5.50R$27.85
-17.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.36฿1,565
$27.19R$138
70.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.65฿292
$5.84R$29.54
48.12%
Cappuccino
$3.09฿104
$1.79R$9.07
72.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.89
$1.20R$6.06
-43.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.44
$0.78R$3.97
-52.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42฿81.6
$1.81R$9.17
33.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81฿129
$2.77R$13.99
37.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Valinhos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿73.5
$0.98R$4.95
122.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82฿61.3
$1.59R$8.04
14.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.18฿73.5
$1.15R$5.80
89.57%
Eggs
$2.24฿75.4
$2.38R$12.02
-5.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.93฿673
$9.84R$49.78
102.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.64฿123
$4.02R$20.36
-9.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.56฿458
$8.16R$41.29
66.18%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29฿111
$1.69R$8.57
94.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69฿56.9
$1.25R$6.34
35.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33฿78.8
$1.38R$6.99
68.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.4
$1.74R$8.81
16.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60฿54.0
$1.25R$6.33
28.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49฿50.5
$1.29R$6.55
15.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿34.17
$0.96R$4.88
5.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿16.09
$0.63R$3.17
-23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45฿150
$1.76R$8.91
152.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.63฿629
$8.03R$40.63
132.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79฿60.3
$1.38R$6.96
29.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80฿94.4
$2.06R$10.44
35.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Valinhos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿47.90
$0.87R$4.38
63.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.33฿382
$38.26R$194
-70.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09฿104
$1.12R$5.65
175.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.19
$0.57R$2.89
82.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.63฿460
$7.62R$38.52
78.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.23
$1.07R$5.39
22.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K฿920.7K
$21.1KR$106.5K
29.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$28.6KR$144.5K
16.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Valinhos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123฿4,157
$50.9R$258
141.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.81฿466
$11.95R$60.5
15.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52฿625
$22.46R$114
-17.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Valinhos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.4฿2,037
$22.60R$114
167.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80฿567
$21.48R$109
-21.79%
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿300
$7.24R$36.64
22.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Valinhos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$687฿23.2K
$292R$1,475
135.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6K฿524.8K
$7,992R$40.4K
94.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Valinhos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6฿1,945
$46.35R$234
24.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.66฿1,170
$39.23R$198
-11.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,879
$80.5R$407
42.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.9฿2,865
$40.90R$207
107.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Valinhos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$618฿20.8K
$316R$1,601
95.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$443฿15.0K
$220R$1,114
101.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,047฿69.1K
$444R$2,247
360.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,506฿50.8K
$547R$2,765
175.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,568฿120.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,511฿84.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Valinhos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿17.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
11.17
-52.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026
Last update for Valinhos: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $618 in Phuket and $316 in Valinhos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $27.00 in Valinhos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $189 per month, with Valinhos 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 Valinhos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Valinhos cheaper than Phuket?
Valinhos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 66% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,891 in Phuket and $1,141 in Valinhos to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Valinhos?
Rent for a central apartment: $618 in Phuket versus $316 in Valinhos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $687 in Phuket versus $292 in Valinhos. 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 Valinhos?
Supermarket bills run roughly 54% 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 Valinhos?
At $760 in Valinhos versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Valinhos but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Valinhos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Valinhos more family-friendly?
For families, Valinhos 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 Valinhos?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Valinhos 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 Valinhos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.