🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $854 in Vila Velha versus $1,250 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,341 in Vila Velha versus $2,284 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,828 in Vila Velha versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Vila Velha costs roughly 32% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Vila Velha36% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vila Velha
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.21R$31.74
$4.55฿153
36.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.69R$147
$46.18฿1,554
-37.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.11R$36.32
$8.84฿298
-19.57%
Cappuccino
$1.68R$8.60
$3.06฿103
-45.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18R$6.05
$0.73฿24.42
61.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54R$2.77
$0.40฿13.40
35.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.50R$7.67
$2.43฿81.8
-38.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74R$13.99
$3.78฿127
-27.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vila Velha
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87R$4.43
$2.26฿76.0
-61.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45R$7.40
$1.81฿60.9
-19.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.04R$5.33
$2.25฿75.8
-53.78%
Eggs
$1.61R$8.24
$2.25฿75.6
-28.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.38R$37.72
$19.51฿656
-62.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.70R$18.92
$3.65฿123
1.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.43R$32.87
$13.05฿439
-50.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.00R$10.20
$3.23฿109
-38.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22R$6.22
$1.62฿54.4
-24.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24R$6.33
$2.38฿80.2
-47.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.28R$6.54
$2.03฿68.2
-36.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14R$5.82
$1.53฿51.6
-25.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34R$6.85
$1.50฿50.5
-10.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46R$2.36
$0.98฿32.93
-53.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56R$2.85
$0.52฿17.40
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81R$14.35
$4.44฿149
-36.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.99R$45.93
$18.32฿616
-50.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89R$4.56
$1.86฿62.7
-52.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29R$11.73
$2.68฿90.2
-14.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Vila Velha
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82R$4.20
$1.41฿47.49
-41.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.8R$275
$11.70฿394
359.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05R$5.37
$3.11฿105
-66.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.72R$3.69
$1.04฿35.08
-30.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.79R$19.39
$14.11฿475
-73.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12R$5.70
$1.31฿44.13
-14.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3KR$129.5K
$27.8K฿936.0K
-8.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6KR$166.9K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-1.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vila Velha
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124R$635
$122฿4,120
1.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.58R$89.9
$13.59฿457
29.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.87R$86.2
$18.70฿629
-9.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vila Velha
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.30R$134
$60.5฿2,035
-56.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.99R$112
$16.98฿572
29.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.54R$28.33
$9.07฿305
-38.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vila Velha
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$413R$2,111
$706฿23.8K
-41.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,533R$33.4K
$15.8K฿531.8K
-58.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vila Velha
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.31R$186
$58.6฿1,970
-37.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.13R$200
$35.36฿1,190
10.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.1R$277
$115฿3,885
-53.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.8R$336
$83.7฿2,818
-21.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vila Velha
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$297R$1,519
$626฿21.1K
-52.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$217R$1,111
$445฿15.0K
-51.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$519R$2,654
$2,040฿68.7K
-74.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$479R$2,447
$1,492฿50.2K
-67.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,043R$10.4K
$3,483฿117.2K
-41.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,056R$10.5K
$2,577฿86.7K
-20.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vila Velha
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$400R$2,043
$500฿16.8K
-20.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.38
5.33
94.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vila Velha: July 11, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $297 in Vila Velha and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 25% 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: $29.00 in Vila Velha vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $164 vs $289 per month, with Vila Velha 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
Vila Velha vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Vila Velha?
Vila Velha is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Vila Velha or Phuket?
On paper, salaries run 25% 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 Vila Velha and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $297 in Vila Velha 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 $413 in Vila Velha 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 Vila Velha and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Vila Velha or in Phuket?
At $854 in Vila Velha versus $1,250 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Vila Velha but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Vila Velha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Vila Velha or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Vila Velha 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, Vila Velha or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Vila Velha 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 Vila Velha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Vila Velha vs other spots: cost of living compared