😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,360 in Akron, OH versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,400 in Akron, OH versus $2,284 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,440 in Akron, OH versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Akron, OH is roughly 89% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Akron, OH is 77% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Akron, OH
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.70$15.70
$4.55฿153
245.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.1$56.1
$46.18฿1,553
21.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.19$10.19
$8.84฿297
15.27%
Cappuccino
$3.64$3.64
$3.06฿103
18.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40$2.40
$0.73฿24.40
228.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80$1.80
$0.40฿13.39
350.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.92$4.92
$2.43฿81.8
102.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.60$5.60
$3.78฿127
48.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Akron, OH
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10$1.10
$2.26฿76.0
-51.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.66$2.66
$1.81฿60.9
46.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$7.29$7.29
$2.25฿75.8
224.00%
Eggs
$4.64$4.64
$2.25฿75.5
106.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.22$15.22
$19.51฿656
-21.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.69$11.69
$3.65฿123
220.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.02$19.02
$13.05฿439
45.75%
Apples(1kg)
$7.39$7.39
$3.23฿109
128.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55$1.55
$1.62฿54.4
-4.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$10.18$10.18
$2.38฿80.1
327.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.55$6.55
$2.03฿68.1
222.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.10$2.10
$1.53฿51.6
37.25%
Onion(1kg)
$3.44$3.44
$1.50฿50.5
129.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.41$2.41
$0.98฿32.91
145.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84$1.84
$0.52฿17.39
253.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.02$9.02
$4.44฿149
103.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.24$14.24
$18.32฿616
-22.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$1.86฿62.7
-8.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79$3.79
$2.68฿90.1
41.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Akron, OH
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23$1.23
$1.41฿47.46
-12.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.01$49.01
$11.70฿393
318.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.89$4.89
$3.11฿105
57.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58$1.58
$1.04฿35.06
51.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.62$28.62
$14.11฿474
102.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.31฿44.10
-35.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K$24.6K
$27.8K฿935.4K
-11.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K$28.8K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-13.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Akron, OH
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$287$287
$122฿4,118
134.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.27$41.27
$13.59฿457
203.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.3$83.3
$18.70฿629
345.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Akron, OH
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.28$43.28
$60.5฿2,034
-28.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.20$17.20
$16.98฿571
1.30%
Cinema Ticket
$12.22$12.22
$9.07฿305
34.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Akron, OH
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,333$1,333
$706฿23.8K
88.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.5K$12.5K
$15.8K฿531.5K
-20.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Akron, OH
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.38$47.38
$58.6฿1,969
-19.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.7$65.7
$35.36฿1,189
85.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1$86.1
$115฿3,883
-25.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125$125
$83.7฿2,816
49.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Akron, OH
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995$995
$626฿21.0K
59.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$911$911
$445฿15.0K
104.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,312$1,312
$2,040฿68.6K
-35.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,601$1,601
$1,492฿50.2K
7.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,542$1,542
$3,483฿117.1K
-55.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,501$1,501
$2,577฿86.7K
-41.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Akron, OH
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,273$3,273
$500฿16.8K
554.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.38
5.33
19.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Akron, OH: July 13, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Akron, OH and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Akron, OH pays 555% 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: $56.0 in Akron, OH vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $456 vs $289 per month, with Phuket 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
Akron, OH vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Akron, OH and in Phuket?
Akron, OH and Phuket differ by about 89% in total monthly costs ($2,360 vs $1,250 including rent). Phuket is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Akron, OH or Phuket?
Average pay runs 555% higher in Akron, OH, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Akron, OH and in Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Akron, OH versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Akron, OH or Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,360 per month in Akron, OH versus $1,250 in Phuket – a 89% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Akron, OH and in Phuket?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 319% less than in Akron, OH. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,360 in Akron, OH, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Akron, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Akron, OH and Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Akron, OH or Phuket safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Akron, OH 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.
Where should expats move: Akron, OH or Phuket?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Akron, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.