🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $616 in Sete Lagoas versus $1,265 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $983 in Sete Lagoas versus $2,297 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,350 in Sete Lagoas versus $3,329 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Sete Lagoas costs roughly 51% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sete Lagoas54% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.43R$33.10
$4.70฿154
36.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.59R$106
$45.37฿1,489
-54.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.94R$25.44
$8.43฿277
-41.40%
Cappuccino
$0.55R$2.86
$2.93฿96.1
-81.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88R$4.56
$0.69฿22.50
27.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52R$2.68
$0.37฿12.04
40.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.38R$7.08
$2.41฿79.0
-42.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72R$8.87
$3.72฿122
-53.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79R$4.09
$2.23฿73.3
-64.57%
White Bread(500g)
$0.61R$3.14
$1.83฿60.1
-66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59R$8.17
$2.17฿71.1
-26.73%
Eggs
$1.54R$7.96
$2.21฿72.6
-30.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.53R$28.49
$19.74฿648
-71.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.75R$14.17
$3.63฿119
-24.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.10R$36.56
$13.53฿444
-47.52%
Apples(1kg)
$0.87R$4.49
$3.28฿108
-73.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11R$5.72
$1.61฿52.9
-31.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.56R$2.87
$2.41฿79.0
-76.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.86R$4.43
$2.08฿68.4
-58.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07R$5.51
$1.53฿50.2
-30.07%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56R$2.89
$1.48฿48.58
-62.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46R$2.37
$0.99฿32.44
-53.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48R$2.47
$0.51฿16.74
-5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.10R$10.82
$4.41฿145
-52.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.79R$29.80
$19.38฿636
-70.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.55R$2.85
$1.78฿58.4
-69.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93R$4.81
$2.71฿89.0
-65.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87R$4.48
$1.37฿44.99
-36.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.34R$197
$11.39฿374
236.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37R$1.92
$3.02฿99.1
-87.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27R$1.39
$0.99฿32.63
-72.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89R$40.62
$14.10฿463
-44.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88R$4.53
$1.36฿44.71
-35.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.5KR$64.4K
$28.2K฿925.3K
-55.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5KR$110.5K
$32.9K฿1.1M
-34.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.61R$230
$122฿3,993
-63.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.36R$74.0
$13.57฿445
5.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.98R$92.6
$18.31฿601
-1.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.59R$116
$60.2฿1,976
-62.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.52R$111
$17.14฿562
25.55%
Cinema Ticket
$3.68R$18.94
$8.69฿285
-57.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106R$546
$693฿22.8K
-84.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,816R$35.1K
$15.7K฿514.7K
-56.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.06R$46.69
$59.5฿1,953
-84.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.84R$45.56
$34.77฿1,141
-74.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$36.45R$188
$115฿3,760
-68.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.27R$187
$83.3฿2,733
-56.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$319R$1,645
$613฿20.1K
-47.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$219R$1,127
$437฿14.3K
-49.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$589R$3,032
$2,094฿68.7K
-71.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$437R$2,253
$1,509฿49.5K
-71.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,618R$8,335
$3,749฿123.0K
-56.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,161R$5,983
$2,616฿85.8K
-55.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$432R$2,228
$508฿16.7K
-14.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.83
5.33
103.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sete Lagoas: June 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $319 in Sete Lagoas and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 17% 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: $21.00 in Sete Lagoas vs $45.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $293 per month, with Sete Lagoas 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
Sete Lagoas vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Sete Lagoas?
Sete Lagoas is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sete Lagoas or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 17% 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 Sete Lagoas and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $319 in Sete Lagoas 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 $106 in Sete Lagoas 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 Sete Lagoas and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 136% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Sete Lagoas or Phuket?
At $616 in Sete Lagoas versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sete Lagoas but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Sete Lagoas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sete Lagoas or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Sete 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, Sete Lagoas or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Sete Lagoas 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 Sete Lagoas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sete Lagoas vs other spots: cost of living compared