๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $623 in Sete Lagoas versus $1,270 in Phuket.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $984 in Sete Lagoas versus $2,304 in Phuket.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,344 in Sete Lagoas versus $3,339 in Phuket.
๐Living in Sete Lagoas costs roughly 51% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities sit below the global median: Sete Lagoas53% lower, Phuket5% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.34R$31.51
$4.66เธฟ150
36.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.74R$103
$46.44เธฟ1,496
-55.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.96R$24.66
$8.68เธฟ280
-42.86%
Cappuccino
$0.52R$2.56
$2.95เธฟ95.0
-82.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89R$4.41
$0.70เธฟ22.52
27.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56R$2.78
$0.39เธฟ12.70
43.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.39R$6.89
$2.53เธฟ81.6
-45.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67R$8.29
$3.78เธฟ122
-55.82%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85R$4.24
$2.22เธฟ71.5
-61.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60R$3.00
$1.80เธฟ57.8
-66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61R$8.00
$2.19เธฟ70.4
-26.48%
Eggs
$1.55R$7.68
$2.31เธฟ74.5
-32.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.49R$27.30
$19.34เธฟ623
-71.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.71R$13.47
$3.77เธฟ121
-28.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.32R$36.37
$13.22เธฟ426
-44.63%
Apples(1kg)
$0.92R$4.56
$3.33เธฟ107
-72.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06R$5.25
$1.65เธฟ53.1
-35.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.52R$2.59
$2.29เธฟ73.7
-77.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.92R$4.55
$1.99เธฟ64.1
-53.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03R$5.11
$1.53เธฟ49.24
-32.68%
Onion(1kg)
$0.53R$2.62
$1.51เธฟ48.77
-64.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47R$2.31
$1.03เธฟ33.12
-54.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48R$2.36
$0.51เธฟ16.57
-5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20R$10.95
$4.41เธฟ142
-50.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.86R$39.05
$19.41เธฟ625
-59.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.56R$2.80
$1.80เธฟ58.0
-68.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87R$4.35
$2.68เธฟ86.4
-67.54%
๐ Getting Around
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86R$4.27
$1.43เธฟ46.11
-39.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.67R$192
$11.70เธฟ377
230.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37R$1.84
$3.04เธฟ97.9
-87.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27R$1.36
$1.04เธฟ33.37
-74.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.97R$39.62
$13.68เธฟ441
-41.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89R$4.42
$1.30เธฟ41.85
-31.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.7KR$63.2K
$27.9Kเธฟ898.9K
-54.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2KR$105.4K
$33.0Kเธฟ1.1M
-35.80%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.90R$223
$123เธฟ3,962
-63.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.30R$71.1
$13.82เธฟ445
3.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.79R$88.4
$18.86เธฟ608
-5.67%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.25R$111
$61.2เธฟ1,970
-63.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.46R$107
$16.81เธฟ541
27.66%
Cinema Ticket
$3.71R$18.43
$8.87เธฟ286
-58.17%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$108R$535
$696เธฟ22.4K
-84.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,767R$33.6K
$16.1Kเธฟ517.4K
-57.86%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$8.80R$43.71
$59.3เธฟ1,910
-85.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.24R$45.92
$34.85เธฟ1,123
-73.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$36.44R$181
$113เธฟ3,646
-67.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.37R$176
$85.1เธฟ2,740
-58.41%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$311R$1,547
$615เธฟ19.8K
-49.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$220R$1,095
$448เธฟ14.4K
-50.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588R$2,924
$2,085เธฟ67.2K
-71.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$427R$2,121
$1,496เธฟ48.2K
-71.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,693R$8,414
$3,734เธฟ120.3K
-54.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,174R$5,836
$2,662เธฟ85.8K
-55.89%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Sete Lagoas
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$444R$2,208
$534เธฟ17.2K
-16.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.83
5.33
103.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sete Lagoas: April 20, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Sete Lagoas and $615 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐPhuket pays 20% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $21 in Sete Lagoas vs $46 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $129 vs $291 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 104% 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 20% 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: $311 in Sete Lagoas versus $615 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $108 in Sete Lagoas versus $696 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 126% 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 $623 in Sete Lagoas versus $1,270 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 โ expenses run 104% 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