Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Velho and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Velho and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $761 in Porto Velho versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,198 in Porto Velho versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,635 in Porto Velho versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Porto Velho costs roughly 40% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Porto Velho 43% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Porto Velho
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.45 R$22.94
$4.70 ฿154
-5.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.32 R$136
$45.37 ฿1,489
-41.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.87 R$30.26
$8.43 ฿277
-30.37%
Cappuccino
$1.59 R$8.22
$2.93 ฿96.1
-45.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 R$5.93
$0.69 ฿22.50
66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 R$1.89
$0.37 ฿12.04
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.77 R$9.12
$2.41 ฿79.0
-26.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 R$14.10
$3.72 ฿122
-26.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Porto Velho
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 R$4.79
$2.23 ฿73.3
-58.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 R$7.44
$1.83 ฿60.1
-21.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 R$5.92
$2.17 ฿71.1
-47.00%
Eggs
$2.03 R$10.48
$2.21 ฿72.6
-8.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.12 R$41.83
$19.74 ฿648
-58.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 R$18.81
$3.63 ฿119
0.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.45 R$38.37
$13.53 ฿444
-44.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 R$10.92
$3.28 ฿108
-35.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.65
$1.61 ฿52.9
-19.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 R$6.13
$2.41 ฿79.0
-50.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 R$7.71
$2.08 ฿68.4
-27.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 R$5.95
$1.53 ฿50.2
-24.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 R$5.67
$1.48 ฿48.58
-25.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 R$3.64
$0.99 ฿32.44
-28.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 R$3.19
$0.51 ฿16.74
21.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08 R$10.73
$4.41 ฿145
-52.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.17 R$36.93
$19.38 ฿636
-63.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 R$6.33
$1.78 ฿58.4
-30.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 R$10.15
$2.71 ฿89.0
-27.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Porto Velho
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 R$4.42
$1.37 ฿44.99
-37.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.72 R$199
$11.39 ฿374
239.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.11 R$5.71
$3.02 ฿99.1
-63.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 R$3.82
$0.99 ฿32.63
-25.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.50 R$33.49
$14.10 ฿463
-53.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 R$5.79
$1.36 ฿44.71
-17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K R$105.2K
$28.2K ฿925.3K
-27.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K R$143.4K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-15.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porto Velho
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.7 R$318
$122 ฿3,993
-49.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.28 R$68.4
$13.57 ฿445
-2.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.80 R$96.8
$18.31 ฿601
2.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Porto Velho
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.95 R$118
$60.2 ฿1,976
-61.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.75 R$112
$17.14 ฿562
26.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 R$31.93
$8.69 ฿285
-28.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Porto Velho
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$268 R$1,381
$693 ฿22.8K
-61.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,511 R$33.5K
$15.7K ฿514.7K
-58.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Porto Velho
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.85 R$257
$59.5 ฿1,953
-16.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.80 R$215
$34.77 ฿1,141
20.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.7 R$390
$115 ฿3,760
-33.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.3 R$336
$83.3 ฿2,733
-21.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Porto Velho
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$312 R$1,606
$613 ฿20.1K
-49.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$218 R$1,122
$437 ฿14.3K
-50.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$581 R$2,991
$2,094 ฿68.7K
-72.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$423 R$2,180
$1,509 ฿49.5K
-71.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,812 R$9,333
$3,749 ฿123.0K
-51.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,151 R$5,929
$2,616 ฿85.8K
-56.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Porto Velho
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$414 R$2,135
$508 ฿16.7K
-18.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.92
5.33
104.88%

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

Last update for Porto Velho: June 1, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $312 in Porto Velho and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phuket pays 23% 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: $26.00 in Porto Velho vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $293 per month, with Porto Velho 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
Porto Velho vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Porto Velho?
Porto Velho 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.
Where can you earn more: Porto Velho or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 23% less. 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 Porto Velho and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $312 in Porto Velho versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $268 in Porto Velho versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Porto Velho and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 70% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Porto Velho or Phuket?
At $761 in Porto Velho versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Porto Velho but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Porto Velho the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Porto Velho or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Porto Velho 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, Porto Velho or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Porto Velho and Phuket 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 Porto Velho 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.

Porto Velho vs other spots: cost of living compared

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