Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Vila do Conde Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Vila do Conde

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,479 in Vila do Conde.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $2,297 in Vila do Conde.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $3,115 in Vila do Conde.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 15% less than in Vila do Conde, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Vila do Conde is 11% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Vila do Conde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$11.38 €9.98
-60.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,557
$45.49 €39.88
1.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿298
$9.48 €8.31
-6.75%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$2.01 €1.76
52.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.46
$2.01 €1.77
-63.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.42
$1.38 €1.21
-71.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿82.0
$2.36 €2.07
2.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$3.53 €3.10
7.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Vila do Conde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.2
$1.11 €0.97
103.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿61.0
$1.51 €1.32
19.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿76.0
$1.61 €1.41
39.75%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.7
$2.96 €2.60
-23.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿658
$11.54 €10.12
69.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$7.06 €6.19
-48.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿440
$14.22 €12.46
-8.23%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$2.12 €1.86
52.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.5
$1.47 €1.29
10.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.3
$1.80 €1.58
32.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.3
$2.47 €2.17
-17.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.7
$1.38 €1.21
10.87%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$1.86 €1.63
-19.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.99
$1.55 €1.36
-36.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.43
$0.80 €0.70
-35.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿150
$6.18 €5.42
-28.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿618
$4.51 €3.96
306.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.8
$1.13 €0.99
64.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.4
$2.36 €2.07
13.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Vila do Conde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.57
$2.28 €2.00
-38.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿394
$41.54 €36.42
-71.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$4.10 €3.59
-24.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.14
$0.77 €0.67
35.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿476
$14.67 €12.86
-3.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.20
$1.97 €1.73
-33.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿937.7K
$35.3K €30.9K
-21.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$38.2K €33.5K
-12.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Vila do Conde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,127
$133 €116
-7.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿458
$21.40 €18.77
-36.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿630
$41.96 €36.79
-55.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Vila do Conde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,039
$43.67 €38.29
38.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿573
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿306
$8.33 €7.30
8.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Vila do Conde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$352 €309
100.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿532.8K
$8,288 €7,267
90.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Vila do Conde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,974
$74.4 €65.2
-21.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,192
$34.75 €30.47
1.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,892
$92.6 €81.2
24.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,823
$113 €99.2
-25.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Vila do Conde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.1K
$751 €658
-16.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$568 €498
-21.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.8K
$1,546 €1,355
32.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.3K
$1,140 €999
30.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.4K
$3,268 €2,865
6.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.9K
$2,367 €2,076
8.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Vila do Conde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
$1,963 €1,721
-74.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
3.79
40.63%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Last update for Vila do Conde: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $751 in Vila do Conde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vila do Conde pays 293% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $45.00 in Vila do Conde for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $239 per month, with Vila do Conde 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 Vila do Conde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vila do Conde cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Vila do Conde?
On paper, salaries run 293% lower in Vila do Conde. 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 Vila do Conde?
Rent for a central apartment: $626 in Phuket versus $751 in Vila do Conde. 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 $352 in Vila do Conde. 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 Vila do Conde?
Shoppers in Vila do Conde pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Vila do Conde?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $1,479 in Vila do Conde, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Vila do Conde. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Vila do Conde more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Vila do Conde, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Vila do Conde?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Vila do Conde 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 Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Vila do Conde. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities