🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $682 in Teresopolis versus $1,250 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,099 in Teresopolis versus $2,284 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,517 in Teresopolis versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Teresopolis costs roughly 45% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Teresopolis49% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Teresopolis
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.51R$17.86
$4.55฿153
-22.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.07R$128
$46.18฿1,553
-45.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.20R$31.55
$8.84฿297
-29.86%
Cappuccino
$1.55R$7.88
$3.06฿103
-49.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34R$6.80
$0.73฿24.40
83.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71R$3.64
$0.40฿13.39
77.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81R$9.23
$2.43฿81.8
-25.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67R$13.57
$3.78฿127
-29.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Teresopolis
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17R$5.95
$2.26฿76.0
-48.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75R$8.92
$1.81฿60.9
-3.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43R$7.28
$2.25฿75.8
-36.44%
Eggs
$2.04R$10.36
$2.25฿75.5
-9.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.54R$38.39
$19.51฿656
-61.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.54R$18.01
$3.65฿123
-3.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.64R$38.89
$13.05฿439
-41.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20R$11.22
$3.23฿109
-31.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29R$6.55
$1.62฿54.4
-20.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46R$7.43
$2.38฿80.1
-38.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56R$7.94
$2.03฿68.1
-23.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23R$6.26
$1.53฿51.6
-19.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15R$5.85
$1.50฿50.5
-23.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64R$3.25
$0.98฿32.91
-34.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57R$2.88
$0.52฿17.39
9.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.02R$10.29
$4.44฿149
-54.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.93R$30.18
$18.32฿616
-67.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21R$6.16
$1.86฿62.7
-34.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13R$10.82
$2.68฿90.1
-20.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Teresopolis
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77R$3.92
$1.41฿47.46
-45.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.80R$121
$11.70฿393
103.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93R$4.73
$3.11฿105
-70.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69R$3.52
$1.04฿35.06
-33.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.11R$10.73
$14.11฿474
-85.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02R$5.20
$1.31฿44.10
-22.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2KR$103.0K
$27.8K฿935.4K
-27.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KR$139.4K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-17.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Teresopolis
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.52R$135
$122฿4,118
-78.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.32R$62.7
$13.59฿457
-9.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.27R$87.9
$18.70฿629
-7.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Teresopolis
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.43R$124
$60.5฿2,034
-59.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.30R$93.2
$16.98฿571
7.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.37R$27.36
$9.07฿305
-40.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Teresopolis
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$274R$1,394
$706฿23.8K
-61.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4KR$58.2K
$15.8K฿531.5K
-27.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Teresopolis
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.01R$112
$58.6฿1,969
-62.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.60R$135
$35.36฿1,189
-24.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.9R$386
$115฿3,883
-34.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.2R$316
$83.7฿2,816
-25.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Teresopolis
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$315R$1,604
$626฿21.0K
-49.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$218R$1,110
$445฿15.0K
-51.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343R$1,745
$2,040฿68.6K
-83.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$424R$2,158
$1,492฿50.2K
-71.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,156R$5,884
$3,483฿117.1K
-66.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,577฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Teresopolis
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$473R$2,409
$500฿16.8K
-5.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.33
5.33
112.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Teresopolis: July 11, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $315 in Teresopolis and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 6% 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: $25.00 in Teresopolis vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $289 per month, with Teresopolis 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
Teresopolis vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Teresopolis?
Teresopolis is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 83% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Teresopolis or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Phuket. 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 Teresopolis and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $315 in Teresopolis versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $274 in Teresopolis versus $706 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 Teresopolis and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 64% 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 Teresopolis or in Phuket?
At $682 in Teresopolis versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Teresopolis but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Teresopolis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Teresopolis or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Teresopolis 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, Teresopolis or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Teresopolis 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 Teresopolis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Teresopolis vs other spots: cost of living compared