Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Ames, IA and Phuket

😐 Solo nomad: Ames, IA is 40% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 67.1% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Ames, IA is 61.2% more expensive than Phuket without rent, and 32.1% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.25 $18.25

$4.59 ฿147

297.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.31 $44.31

$46.83 ฿1,497

-5.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.79 $8.79

$8.70 ฿278

1.03%

Cappuccino

$5.26 $5.26

$2.92 ฿93.5

80.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.68 ฿21.86

189.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$0.40 ฿12.66

342.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.08 $3.08

$2.51 ฿80.2

22.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.19 $7.19

$3.80 ฿122

89.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$2.16 ฿69.1

-56.02%

White Bread (500g)

$3.69 $3.69

$1.88 ฿60.1

96.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.16 ฿69.0

39.81%

Eggs

$3.21 $3.21

$2.22 ฿71.0

44.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.63 $9.63

$19.57 ฿626

-50.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.85 $11.85

$3.80 ฿122

211.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.08 $14.08

$13.41 ฿429

5.00%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.26 ฿104

58.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.61 ฿51.5

-27.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.91 $5.91

$2.31 ฿73.8

155.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.28 $5.28

$2.06 ฿65.8

156.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.94 $3.94

$1.61 ฿51.3

144.72%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$1.44 ฿46.13

164.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.03 ฿32.91

97.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.48 ฿15.34

312.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.93 $8.93

$4.50 ฿144

98.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.86 $15.86

$19.18 ฿613

-17.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.82 ฿58.3

-7.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.69 ฿86.0

66.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.38 ฿44.04

10.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.05 $47.05

$11.76 ฿376

300.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.89 $4.89

$3.11 ฿99.3

57.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.41 $1.41

$1.00 ฿32.09

41.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.4 $50.4

$13.74 ฿439

266.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$1.30 ฿41.49

-33.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.3K $25.3K

$27.4K ฿874.5K

-7.47%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K $25.9K

$33.0K ฿1.1M

-21.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$194 $194

$125 ฿3,993

55.04%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.05 $48.05

$13.74 ฿439

249.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.1 $74.1

$18.61 ฿595

298.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.4 $69.4

$60.6 ฿1,936

14.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.15 $20.15

$17.15 ฿548

17.49%

Cinema Ticket

$14.09 $14.09

$9.01 ฿288

56.38%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,475 $1,475

$698 ฿22.3K

111.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.7K $29.7K

$16.1K ฿515.1K

84.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.98 $38.98

$59.2 ฿1,893

-34.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.38 $41.38

$34.86 ฿1,115

18.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 $84.5

$114 ฿3,651

-26.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$85.8 ฿2,743

32.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$967 $967

$619 ฿19.8K

56.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$822 $822

$437 ฿14.0K

88.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,951 $1,951

$2,075 ฿66.3K

-5.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 $1,641

$1,509 ฿48.2K

8.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,388 $2,388

$3,764 ฿120.3K

-36.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,239 $2,239

$2,694 ฿86.1K

-16.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,693 $3,693

$528 ฿16.9K

598.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.02

5.33

12.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ames, IA: April 12, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 13, 2026

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

Ames, IA vs other spots: cost of living compared

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